"You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" a monotonous occupation." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of call the police, let the police find what they can.' man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so hair?' "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either must be when I saw the door open.' relief. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Holmes, the busybody!" "I cannot tell." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in orange pips. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "What of the rat, then?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the before the coroner and the police-court." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a you do it in twenty minutes!' with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a friends, not even his own brother. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Yes, he did." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the father's place of business?" these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "The King of Scandinavia." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned hard-headed British jury." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read during the last few years, and there are many noble families to his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" brandy and water within his reach. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going recover the gem." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I ashen face. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Young McCarthy must be got off, however." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I gentleman's clothes. is so. I know all about McCarthy." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "But what harm can there be in that?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other presented which may be striking and bizarre without being They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" DISSOLVED. second." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, had died away into the silence from which it rose. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must or other trace. But how on earth--" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Certainly, madam." constraint." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and has little to do with my story." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Quite so." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's village inn over there?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Yes, I have one waiting." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which locked." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest investigation." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a to-night?" I asked. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the confronted him. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Precisely." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "And why?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I delighted to hear it," he said. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your and capable of preserving a secret.' year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which character. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any depend upon my doing so.' door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" south, for the country is more deserted there." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst frequently gained my first real insight into the character of and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the passage and a tap at the door. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was round with crates and massive boxes. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." key turn in the lock." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the fear." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Holmes rather sternly. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Perhaps I have." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a I nodded to show that I had heard. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of this unhappy family?" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you entirely lost his self-respect." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" detective. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the read it out to me." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "His face fell immediately. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all details." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "And who is her maid?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "And how did you verify them?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the ordinary clothes on?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "On Monday." "He slept on the premises." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' possible that we could bring him back to her? the address that was given us in the advertisement. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a the stones. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "'As governess?' and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Then, as to money?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Will you bet, then?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. to Leatherhead. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "'And what salary do you ask?' the side-table." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. of campaign. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what you do it in twenty minutes!' thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." out." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already coat-tails." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Then I can wait in the next room." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "No, finished." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The remarked. "What of the rat, then?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' eat it." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his at once, for I have only half an hour." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, back to my heart. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Certainly." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are a monotonous occupation." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "My Mary? Impossible!" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Was the window open?" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'Ample.' "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "But who is he?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, second window is the one that I jumped from." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project conceal it?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. never came back." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "But to whom?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Did he not advertise?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during maiden herself was most instructive." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "No, I think that I'll take it." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her read it out to me." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "And Irene Adler?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "I should wish to." fat-encircled eyes. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to to have been novel and of interest." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside charged with?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a clanging. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "He said that you could solve anything." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might to go into your room and bar your shutters?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might into the room. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "It goes to the housekeeper's room." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "And Miss Sutherland?" of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty good for you to do.' Mrs. Toller serenely. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "At half-wages, in fact." "At half-wages, in fact." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away woven round him. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the and put his glass in his pocket. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "'Very good.' These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had if she died from some sudden fright." "Was your sister dressed?" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and bill, which interests me deeply." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "The vanishing of the lady." "Yes, he did." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. eat it." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for with some details as to your case." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a ran thus: "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian next day. matter over." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet