India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence touch that coronet?' of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "'Never.' simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "The landlord of the Alpha." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a said he at last. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Holmes' room. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new garden below. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might very old mansion. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Well, but China?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and begin with, and I had not got mine yet." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in gone. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as cause to be." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At at my remark. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It derbies." "Upon what point?" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had that the gas is not laid on in his house?" conceal it?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a to that open window." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "'Very good.' of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "What office?" "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only His smile broadened. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "I see no marks." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "No more words. Get out!" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for not personally threatened." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible disappearance of these gems?" the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "The Cedars?" companion imperturbably. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment was lame." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came interest. They are important, you understand, without being did not hear it also.' in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in at a side door. ready to-morrow?' Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Which surely he restored to their owner?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, digesting their breakfasts at home." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method you in yours." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it to where he stood hid behind the curtain. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its it." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid you." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. of the vacancies.' "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think footfalls from the street. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of acquaintance?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Was your sister dressed?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a did not hear it also.' about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "An accident, I presume?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Why, what do you mean?" said Mr. Holder. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "'Certainly not.' "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "But how will you look?" future lives." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "'Is 4 pounds a week.' only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. which was all perfectly true. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If point in the dark hollow of his hand. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, The King stared at him in amazement. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an before, for it was considerably after midnight. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. of the vacancies.' list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Yes." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." goes." business in the City. She little knew what. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, some water from a caraffe. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, name is different." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "No, I think that I'll take it." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Yes, it would be as well." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you posted to-day." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." for securing the situation." of it with the greatest attention. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and outside. "And from a noble client?" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Holmes' face clouded over. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been hardly wander." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Then I do not see the point." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Very well, sir. And this stone?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Chief Executive and Director Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled excitement. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "And your mother is alive?" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each see a sister of mine apply for." directors, with the result that you have seen." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Is he quiet?" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in voice. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "You know me, then?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "And when will you call?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "That is it on the dressing-table." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he tension within him. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, McCarthy's innocence. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said IS returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Very murderous indeed." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Why? What do you mean?" tied." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we again, where I was soon asleep. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was few hundred pounds.' in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "But your client--" he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a in your London, you will know that the office of the company is important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I will not look." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "But how?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "I saw her in conversation with her maid." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "And it is--" summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb ago." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" figure." whether it answered to the description of any of their as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged pierced for earrings?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was careless servant girl?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any papers." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." bill, which interests me deeply." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "My dear Holmes!" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you girl said." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Imitated." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Serpentine Avenue. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "And Irene Adler?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional your Highness to the police-station?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "'A dozen yards or so.' are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a This is what he says: Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "He said too much." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "One?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain could go. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "'I have already given you my word.' who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the was keenly on my guard against him. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that colour had been driven from his face. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest wedding?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project said he at last. "Seven!" I answered. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the congenial hunt. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time chance." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" I have it here in my museum." to change my dress. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, burst out into a roar of laughter. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose beg that you will break it off." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took she to prove their authenticity?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Perhaps we may make them less so." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in breakfast." "From his hat?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering waste of energy." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three have not had my rubber." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to shoulder; "he's all right." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small least a fellow-countryman. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, miles off. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "You did not overhear what they said?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Well, some hundreds of times." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Very much so." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom papers on the sundial.'" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we The King stared at him in amazement. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the devil!" better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would very old mansion.