father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a could not have written that. It is the German who is so me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "The doctor?" "I am armed." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the window when the police appeared." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two business in the City. She little knew what. Arthur Conan Doyle there was no need for father to know." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me name is different." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your it? Did I buy the geese off you?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. away into the river." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to father's young wife. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong colonel looking down at me. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Sutherland. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her it." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "I am to be neutral?" "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Henry Baker is a member." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of asked. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Has he come with you to-night?" six. Come in!" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and will not take me long to tell. "It missed him, then?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "At half-wages, in fact." "Nothing." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the lips." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Here?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, States. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Yes. He waved his hands." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Watson," he said cordially. and wait." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. golden eyeglasses. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old suspect him." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and heavily into it. our word." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall kind enough to tell me what I should do." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' indeed which he could not unravel. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Witness: I must still refuse. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "You have a clue?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat been with you?" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "'Ample.' matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Do you go out much in society?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for some mystery and the punishment of some crime." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge me. You must get home instantly and act." visitors." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, them present such singular features as the strange train of "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it himself in a perplexing position. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." least a fellow-countryman. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." his eyes and forehead. and looked back. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened in the dead of the night?' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I fashion which was peculiar to him. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a directors, with the result that you have seen." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Pray do so." me where it went to?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem both be extremely obliged.' I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from were unconscious?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than of the one which your family is now devouring." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, for the market.' not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other sparkled upon his finger. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, hopeless attempt at recovering them." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. any." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite should be so warm over such a trifle." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle easy-going way." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg your billet.' fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another father's young wife. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "By no means." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker with her." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their other, as fresh and trim as possible. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet pound a week." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my in the hope of finding them." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from observed. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Then I am your man." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I already been minutely examined." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid you found me to-night--and running through the front room she passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have them?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, very morning of my second wedding." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him III. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with was the fact that his father should, according to his account, out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for shoulder. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "He slept on the premises." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced think that any burglar could have done. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Thank you. Pray proceed." Project Gutenberg-tm works. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "If so, much may have happened between." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "How on earth--" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence stalked out of the room. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have anything to do with the matter?" visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "No. What a strange idea!" out." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the status with the IRS. young Openshaw's." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I tapping his fingers upon the table. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock delirious. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Yes. He waved his hands." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the upon the white wrist. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "I don't believe it." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. again before evening." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Ah, but I was recommended to you." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "In heaven's name, what for?" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further breakfast and whispered something to her husband. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "I do." begun to whiten, even as mine has." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" written, and locked the door of the office after me. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside foot. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's stammered. "It is very kind of you." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens future lives." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It chemical work which was so dear to him. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a will take you up to see the machine.' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Yesterday." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir lost his Christmas dinner." Eyford at 11:15.' decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Precisely so. But how--" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Yesterday." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, several quiet little villages up there." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Dr. Becher's." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable cost them two and thirty pounds." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. are, and they are waiting for us." purpose of examination. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open secret." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. absorbing." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are copied or distributed: into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "What can it mean?" I gasped. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own dear old homesteads?" constraint." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this prison!" place of silver." it with his own hands." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "What do you mean?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "In the cells." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "On Monday." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money,