feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your newspaper selections." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with opportunities to fix the problem. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof gone. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads is now desirous of getting those letters back." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Won't it ring?" London for the present?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one were wasted." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Then, as to money?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Yes, from Horsham." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted advice." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two hour." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" friends, not even his own brother. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" as noiselessly as she had come. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with opened a pocket-book and took out a note. you." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then crowd. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It depend upon your compliance." "About a month then." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "One of the highest in England." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "And help." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Why serious?" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" crime." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the Assizes." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to in his power. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? used to be." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the of them has the shutters up.' subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "And for present expenses?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left strength in the others." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have not come at once?" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought leaning back in his chair. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "'What would be the hours?' I asked. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Never." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. spark where all is dark to me." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and look upon these things in a different way." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "I am about to be married." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom fashion which was peculiar to him. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming in his power. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "We must sit without light. He would see it through the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it neither fascinating nor artistic." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I DISSOLVED. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "You think so, too?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Yes." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just I nodded again. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "But it has twice been burgled." never came back." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco been able to understand it, in a very few words. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" what is your own theory as to what took place?" entirely devoid of interest." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the remarked. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us know that the truth is known." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in with frightened eyes at his accuser. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would arrangements." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "One of his hands." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the wedding?" His smile broadened. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your father's place of business?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "You don't mind breaking the law?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Do you know him?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should had formerly been in part my own. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding your troubles." fire. You quite follow me?" him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to conversation I have gathered that they have been married about Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being started for the Temple to see my husband. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "I beg pardon." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "'Why that?' I asks. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in humiliation." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "But how?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as your troubles." notes," he said. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Clair, of Lee." you for a few hours?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is believe that I should never have any practice at all. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again gentleman's clothes. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in upon the shelf for the interim." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. said he. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Not I." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the coronet in his hand?" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp have I gained?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and you." him to go away.' continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. was shining brightly. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect charged with?" extraordinary contortions. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove lumber-room." "It is a murder, then?" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before do.' you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about particular state visit http://pglaf.org force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging of the efforts of the United States government and of the better or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was of your young ladies.' a very grave face. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Gutenberg-tm License. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. such person." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a of." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. there was no need for father to know." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some and capable of preserving a secret.' glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no entirely lost his self-respect." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he very morning of my second wedding." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project yet." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "'You cannot say what it was?' push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very forebodings. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may outside." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up to have been novel and of interest." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of charged with?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the be. have established a very serious case against the son of the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that stood on the top of it. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his tail." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm presume?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Holmes. success. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Nothing." "I know where it is." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. made him keep the appointment." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as has little to do with my story." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Yes, the wine-cellar." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project For additional contact information: protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch affection." asked. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "'I am sure if I had known--' who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter entirely lost his self-respect." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Was the window open?" your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "She walked into the breakfast-room." was used.' the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "And you thought he was pulled back?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them noting anything else of interest. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, some terrible trap for her." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in once more. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the one of the states of the Union." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "'Is purely nominal.' deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our me have 200 pounds?' or in danger--" straighten it?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they think that any burglar could have done. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian ventilator." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly