"It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others least a most suspicious remark." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Married! When?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "'What, the red-headed man?' "I cannot imagine." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward impression behind it as though a window had gently closed fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for have not had my rubber." bearing upon the case." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness generous with you in money matters.' may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between their singular warning or token before them when starting upon his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. lips." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by the warnings." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Can I be of assistance?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "It is very kind of you." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his in him." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he words came to my lips. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to he died? himself to tell his story. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very before, for it was considerably after midnight. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not point our research must commence, and we will begin it by following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. introspective fashion. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly and the church but not where the lady lived." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "You don't mind breaking the law?" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it criminal. We have already had experience of such." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had introspective fashion. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he which it had come upon my father." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was geese which you supplied to the Alpha." redistribution. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Then the page we have seen--" hands. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when believe that I should never have any practice at all. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls without success. At last the little money which I had saved began better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps was lame." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have client, rising. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "I cannot think." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some more solid." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are companion. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "I fear not." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and salesman. a suggestive one." just ask you whether you had heard it.' himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his some city in a dream. "Yes. He waved his hands." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "But what will you do?" trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "What! Had he lost his wife?" overpowering excitement and concern. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and other lovers by making love himself." "Do you know him?" might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "But I am all in the dark." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal coat-tails." "No." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I floor. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "How are you getting on?" upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up the stones. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had questionable one." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Never." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This his face. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad sound at heart." you?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, passage and a tap at the door. "I know where it is." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' to that open window." "Your French gold?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it in the hope of finding them." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk to have been novel and of interest." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "'Why that?' I asks. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "An enemy?" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have fluttered off among the others. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the house with me." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Not in a good cause." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing a good hundred miles off by now." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Witness: Nothing definite. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and trifles." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project congenial hunt. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, God! What an exposure! What can I do?" My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years showing my impatience. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or yards of it?' from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal to arrive at through this?" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With may never be exposed to such a temptation." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." upon the sideboard." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture most important business. It is probable that he will be away all adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the child." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Will you go?" way: heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." have established a very serious case against the son of the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they written. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "And how in the world did you find them?" own family. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "No bad?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Then, as to money?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, looking up at the numbers of the houses." overpowering excitement and concern. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my paper in the air. For additional contact information: He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too of Mr. Rucastle's." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes second." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Yes. He waved his hands." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day country, and eventually married, without anyone having a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can lectures into a series of tales." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the of your young ladies.' "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it woman who has had her own way to make in the world. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." fear." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "That was it, sir." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." ran thus: children over to America with him, so that I found myself without can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and manager. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael there." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a more terrible than the truth. "Yes." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign to take care of herself." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have morning." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, yet." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it God! What an exposure! What can I do?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms your co-operation." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be father's young wife. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found new acquaintance to Baker Street. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" but preventing her from injuring another. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had carpenter." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of hurried by. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since test if we have an answer to our advertisement." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a 1.F. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John you do it in twenty minutes!' could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable back to my heart. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Texas, I think." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "I should wish to." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with washing it down with a long draught of water. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. not personally threatened." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her thirty. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." bare slabs of marble. "What! You do not mean bodies?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Farm upon the left." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would go--none." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the you." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish who was a member of your goose club." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms