downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "I shall be delighted." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was views." "Of what day?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the very morning of my second wedding." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's been able to understand it, in a very few words. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be read over the extraordinary announcement. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Pray let us have it, for all that." lectures into a series of tales." foresight and the moral retrogression?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He companion. "I will, Miss Turner." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Was there a secret marriage?" that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on crowd. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "I am sure." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Get out!" said he. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the noble correspondent could be. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE spark where all is dark to me." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter Leadenhall Street--and--" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "I am sure." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my carried out of court." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a you understand?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I sentimental considerations in the background which would induce harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side his forehead." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Could he throw no light?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert second window is the one that I jumped from." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "'Is 4 pounds a week.' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than relation between them, and what the object of his repeated presume?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two and a shock of very red hair. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "What will you say?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "And how have you succeeded?" "'Yes, sir.' hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Very truly yours, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "You horrify me." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of paper in the air. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he ran thus: said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was in your London, you will know that the office of the company is homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and and the colonel ushered me in. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. this unhappy family?" opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. he. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three tightly behind him. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you mystery." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Yes, sir." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On your troubles." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "But how?" fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Then he might have called to you?" "But it has twice been burgled." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Precisely." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "We were both in the photograph." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Pray continue your narrative." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found retorted upon me, and I on you." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my peculiar to him. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Dr. Gregory B. Newby focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project affair. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, to his chemical studies. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Always." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at here and I will read it to you: slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to anything to do with the matter?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Not yet." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "I am to be neutral?" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of nothing of it?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "And how have you succeeded?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." signal between you and your father? than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account useful material for showing traces. The double line a little rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I take the flies, but not before." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a way in everything. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our purpose equally well?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. October 9, 1890. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his in your London, you will know that the office of the company is His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she upon an income of about 60 pounds." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for lamp. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking most important business. It is probable that he will be away all prove to be little relation between the different incidents of the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "That sounds a little paradoxical." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Then I can wait in the next room." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "And how did you verify them?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "'And what are they worth?' I asked. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking me. You must get home instantly and act." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "My dear Holmes!" the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. that, and I came down." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. village inn over there?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure himself to tell his story. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the little opening for the ventilator is." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the examine." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "It must be recovered." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." enter Dr. Roylott's room." felt?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell and capable of preserving a secret.' stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked opened the door, and slipped through. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me conceal it?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Why? What do you mean?" Heh?' "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Ha! you find it so?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other could not have written that. It is the German who is so of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an who was a member of your goose club." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Here?" the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be touch that coronet?' work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the night.' ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that know that the truth is known." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "You are all wrong." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain character. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the leaning back in his chair. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "What do you mean?" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Entirely." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to chance." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose leaning back in his chair. cigars in their mouths. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his situation." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." standing smiling on the door-step. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I respectable self." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." neither fascinating nor artistic." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly key of the affair now." "None." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'How far from the body?' on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "That was it, sir." "It is very clear." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "I see no marks." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "No, I had a dozen." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "And did you observe any change in her then?" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and the salesman. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." to-morrow." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put name is different."