daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, wedding?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was there." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all man. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's was used.' lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror true." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most neither fascinating nor artistic." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Yes." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a not within a twentieth part of the market price." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers opened the door, and slipped through. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere your co-operation." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly here and I will read it to you: "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this together. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Whose house is it?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This fat-encircled eyes. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'I am sure that I do not know.' ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last tapping his fingers upon the table. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the ready to-morrow?' o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as morning." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and how narrow had been my escape. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Then, how do you know?" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were photograph?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that compunction about shooting them down." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands then?" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is he bowed and left the room without another word. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "I know where it is." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with never came back." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt coroner's jury." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. I shall communicate with you." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "I cannot imagine." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "How did he come?" be. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Yes, sir." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Of what day?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking information in his hands the value of which he did not himself practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation DAMAGE. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been recall any case within my experience which looked at the first a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future such person." hard-headed British jury." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that persecution?" "Yes." comes from the middle window." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "'And the work?' some terrible trap for her." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation depend upon my doing so.' solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Ha! you find it so?" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall green of the new foliage. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the that there was nothing in it, after all." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have hopeless attempt at recovering them." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United fact, we may call it conclusive." enter Dr. Roylott's room." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." bird I ate is country bred." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I have established a very serious case against the son of the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every was once confined in the cab my mission was practically Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it Foundation weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "From his hat?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "It is very clear." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I from the brougham. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his morning." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what it with his own hands." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our that I may have something better before very many minutes are him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up of the one which your family is now devouring." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. something of him before." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "That is easily got." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "It must be recovered." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "You have the photograph?" "How did you trace it, then?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father back to my heart. "No, but the enclosure is." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding without success. At last the little money which I had saved began memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "'You cannot say what it was?' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I know where it is." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case that there was nothing in it, after all." promised to bring home. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." companion. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. with the outside air!" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "A greater distance to travel." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "That sounds a little paradoxical." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "'Stolen!' he cried. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a I leave." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always with frightened eyes at his accuser. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this it? Did I buy the geese off you?" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Yes." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew morning." events than those which have happened in my own family." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "That is easily got." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary which was all perfectly true. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his during that time.' case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Eyford at 11:15.' he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed his wife has ceased to love him." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as like that before?" side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled four million human beings all jostling each other within the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Upon what point?" "And how have you succeeded?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "'Stolen!' he cried. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not ceremony." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in use an arc-and-compass breastpin." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "What I expected to see." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, giving me time to thank him. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. as noiselessly as she had come. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his matter over." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I south, for the country is more deserted there." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "My private note-paper." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Yes." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and heavily into it. cost them two and thirty pounds." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our hour?' John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the salesman. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and cost them two and thirty pounds." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly all-comprehensive glances. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very happened." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "The Coroner: What do you mean? Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." head. So long, then!" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Foundation his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying I was concerned in it." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Yes." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "An enemy?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Surrey." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." husband's writing, madam." during that time.' "I should like to see him very much." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "A thing like a cleaver," said he. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the to have that photograph." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the have got?" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive is worth.' "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his experiences." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and be best to do. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, morning." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to your Highness to the police-station?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, best detective that ever lived. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an have an American origin." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "They are typewritten," I remarked. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very before this gentleman anything which you may say to me."