sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of morning." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with his face. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. any." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "She walked into the breakfast-room." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax asked with his eyes open. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes fatally injured? friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular in the hope of finding them." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. outbreak?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my British peeress.'" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. look upon these things in a different way." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid you, my dear young lady?' both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and husband's writing, madam." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "That is also quite modern," said the lady. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with http://www.gutenberg.net part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Yes." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, You want to know what became of those geese?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. through." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at who was a member of your goose club." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press other, as fresh and trim as possible. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "That also I could fathom." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room had this final quarrel? "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, used to be." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair comes from the middle window." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "My last client of the sort was a king." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; think you a quite exceptional woman." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. at my own good fortune. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go mysterious end." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that showing my impatience. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of upon an income of about 60 pounds." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself once more to my work. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Watson," he said cordially. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "'What do you call purely nominal?' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose strength." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. knowledge of the world." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him what these perils are?" to change my dress. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may promised to bring home. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the be best to do. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Why did you pick him?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "What! You do not mean bodies?" hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "The rest you will leave in our hands." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter you." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper his forehead." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "But how will you look?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Thank you. And your address?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Where did he live, then?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big think you a quite exceptional woman." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker three fields round his house, and there he would take his reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said side. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If in the port of London." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the unkempt, staring out at me. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But astonishment. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward wedding?" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their nothing with him." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily politicians who had been sent down from the North. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said strong reason behind." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your congratulate you again." "I should wish to." humiliation." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again crowd. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "You know me, then?" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left in a friendly supper." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was which are rolled in Rotterdam." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. His smile broadened. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "How do you know, then?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers enter Dr. Roylott's room." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "The doctor?" the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my closing the door. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a there was no need for father to know." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "'And what salary do you ask?' India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing have not had my rubber." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those particular state visit http://pglaf.org usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked entirely lost his self-respect." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The bare slabs of marble. "'There is a drive, then?' room?" mysterious end." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite stepfather?" "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at washing it down with a long draught of water. "But you can know nothing of this?" all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in quickly through a disagreeable task. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and I approached. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. detective. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "I came to find a friend." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "You have compromised yourself seriously." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other most interesting one." "By no means." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near page at http://pglaf.org following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "The vanishing of the lady." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "What then?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his fait accompli?" the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, soul! here is her carriage at the door." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "'I am sure if I had known--' rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "But your client--" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have following enigmatical notices: "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Not I." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Does that suggest anything?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Doctor, of the paper and the date." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Pray let us have it, for all that." Does that suggest anything?" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. of the way of danger. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened were unconscious?" throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at some city in a dream. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Oh, yes, easily." visitors." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the general public were present, then?" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it had formerly been in part my own. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner me, and I could not think that his explanation of the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen or other trace. But how on earth--" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and manager. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon writing, and yet I know it well." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, strength of mind to control. you in your example." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "The best possible." you?' several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." His name is Francis Prosper." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "What have you to say now?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our into the bag, and made for the door. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use strong reason behind." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "But how will you look?" me have 200 pounds?' there is a decided draught." to some other building. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an hurried away. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike pictures, libraries, or plate. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged locked. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Of Friday, June 19th." bachelor.' while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the