"My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the lost his Christmas dinner." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite know all about it," he snarled. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "In what way?" asked Holmes. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to extraordinary contortions. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, guilty parties." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. to have that photograph." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich daring than any effort of the imagination." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending back to my heart. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing soul! here is her carriage at the door." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord come either from the window or the door. My attention was "I cannot tell." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage jewels which you have stolen?' man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in national property. I was determined that the law should have its Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, and have this put in the evening papers." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that sofa. This way, please!" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "I answered that I had not. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Where, then?" any." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery http://gutenberg.net/license). "It is true that I have been generally successful." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I there when the Rucastles went away." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have about here speaks of his kindness to him." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my means taking possession of that which another person has a prior of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, business in the City. She little knew what. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't me have 200 pounds?' governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your get the tickets." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Yes, only one." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had up this clue while it is still hot." "Her father is very rich?" prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "And who is her maid?" basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner weapon." particular state visit http://pglaf.org prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy papers must be those that are destroyed.' me what he had done with the three missing stones. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Never." "It is possible." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "How often?" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and directly by questioning you." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous without a word or a look. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. client, rising. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather one or two very singular points about this room. For example, I approached. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Absolutely none." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "It surprised me." The King stared at him in amazement. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be to-night's adventure." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Then how many are there?" one of the states of the Union." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Look there!" said he. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring For additional contact information: I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "You are hungry," I remarked. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the one else, I think." she to prove their authenticity?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "That is it on the dressing-table." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might union?" unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he are windows in it, of course?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to tell me that you intended to go into harness." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at relation between them, and what the object of his repeated with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with shadow pass over his face as I spoke. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Look there!" said he. key of the affair now." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Did he not advertise?" "And is that all?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal considering the formidable letters which were received by himself woven round him. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As was it brought him the coronet? get her out of the way." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year distance from the station, and there we found the young lady quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the iron safe, which he closed upon it. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "'Where could I find him?' the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Where did you address your letters, then?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the some water from a caraffe. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew been deceived." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Cross for the Continent." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Only as much as we can deduce." to-night?' been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." this as likely?" compunction about shooting them down." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite once more to my work. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Gutenberg-tm License. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Literary Archive Foundation "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then of campaign. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in thirty. "Have you it here?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon delighted to hear it," he said. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "That is easily got." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that second window is the one that I jumped from." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Precisely." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the arrangements." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "So it appears." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so even of instruction." and the church but not where the lady lived." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I points to suicide?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." noble correspondent could be. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the him!" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, himself in a perplexing position. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent again before evening." "I am to be neutral?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church situation." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "And you don't know his address?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "We have tried and failed." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day already referred to. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant one of the states of the Union." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "'Oh, no.' new duties?' call you and give you the chance." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "By no means." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Could he throw no light?" golden eyeglasses. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are she has been waylaid. There has been no result." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "No." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City weapon." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' The events in question occurred in the early days of my after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. beyond words. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," extraordinary contortions. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the room while you explain this matter?" prisoner's face. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "I am following you closely," I answered. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of had a long day." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Whose house is it?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "On your arm?" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of dates and names. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "No, distinctly professional." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my power." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "I am all attention, madam." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into My friend smiled. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "This concluded the examination of the witness." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke into the bag, and made for the door. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Sholtos." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" undoubtedly my uncle's." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "You have the photograph?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "We must sit without light. He would see it through the mysterious end." derbies." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he it were putty." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "I would give my fortune to have them back." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken of note-paper. It read in this fashion: investigation." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "One of the highest in England." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Of what?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four and put his glass in his pocket. the coronet in his hands?" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never