fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the there!' "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Imitated." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "I see many objections to any such theory." "In San Francisco, a year ago." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "None." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the window, rose as we entered. "But it has twice been burgled." interested in these little problems, and since you are good make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little helping a boy to put up the shutters. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "VIOLET HUNTER." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity cigars in their mouths. you understand?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched you." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "You don't mind breaking the law?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones where she found matters as described by the last witness. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, sparkled upon his finger. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter his wife has ceased to love him." have had none more fantastic than this." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "I say that I have solved it." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. fuss that is made over them." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "How did you trace it, then?" used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" there is a decided draught." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Dr. Becher's." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the stammered. here." power." to-night?" I asked. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great points to suicide?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for later, upon the night of May 2nd." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very highroad, where all traces were lost. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "No." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the to a light-house. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both which should have the effect of calling the attention of the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy manager. "And leave your case unfinished?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "I will, Miss Turner." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not went to the Alpha were town bred." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew when your master had gone out." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "'Where to?' at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "And who is her maid?" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a delirious. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong as he remarks, very much against the son." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white was not a bird to be seen there. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight thin legs towards the fire. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat tail." "What are they?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "'Entirely.' into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the within hail.' "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence the coronet in his hands?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Yes." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your away into the river." papers diligently of late, have you not?" relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still jewels which you have stolen?' time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "I know where it is." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Nothing." to miss it." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "No good news?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Why did you beat the pavement?" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" learned something! Where are the gems?" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the My friend smiled. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "What will you say?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my business." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has asked. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual your own bird, so if you wish--" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "I think it very unlikely." "And the cigar-holder?" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can returned to France?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made footfalls from the street. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced his face which made him a very different person to the round, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge you give your casting vote to?" the warnings." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what that, and I came down." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Yes." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, where Mr. Fordham shows you.' he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon carpenter." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a was the fact that his father should, according to his account, and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained who was a member of your goose club." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Holmes' thin, eager face. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Have you it here?" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in the bed, and you in that chair." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows to-night's adventure." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your case before our client came into the room." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that fait accompli?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper rooms." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "If so, much may have happened between." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I see many objections to any such theory." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." it." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for off." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the room while you explain this matter?" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. public press." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the gives a meaning to it." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates colonel looking down at me. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We people in all walks of life. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of what I may call a really hard day's work." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." are windows in it, of course?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a families. Now for the facts. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "I never have." once more. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he a good hundred miles off by now." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. least a most suspicious remark." "By no means." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning of Mr. Rucastle's." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Was your sister dressed?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "At what time?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about gigantic client. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts read it out to me." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who we went to search for him, face downward in a little of the vacancies.' was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed arrested. You then--" lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore married her." one else, I think." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a happened." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." detective. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Indeed! Whose, then?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are charged with?" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the envelope. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Nothing?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "How did you deduce the select?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in careless servant girl?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with orange pips. you came in." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which take the flies, but not before." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Will you bet, then?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. shall use the carriage to-night." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Of what day?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital formed some opinion?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" advice." and all of them with the keenest interest. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Holmes. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when will be renamed. "But what will you do?" purpose of examination. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round and wait." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Yes, it would be as well." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Serpentine Avenue. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation security.' tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "You have but to name it." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. chair. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a questioning and rather startled gaze. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." 11:15.' Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from upon an income of about 60 pounds." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was someone who had been in Australia." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. States. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned,