me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "In answer to an advertisement." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how enough to aid us in our search." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it legal crime." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am and capable of preserving a secret.' seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for made him keep the appointment." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a jewels which you have stolen?' both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the back into the street. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" were new raised from a basin. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she this as likely?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "A greater distance to travel." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to papers diligently of late, have you not?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the strength." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in business." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Absolutely?" which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "And how did you find out?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Surrey." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I now. It seems that there had been some informality about their he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of that I am arrested." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" redistribution. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the lamp. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an only touch the interest." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "I promise," said Holmes. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Munro.' is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard sooner or later she must fall a victim. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no absolutely follow my advice in every respect." girl said." both be extremely obliged.' "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "An enemy?" address. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your papers diligently of late, have you not?" then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "9th. McCauley cleared. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I distance from the station, and there we found the young lady to a light-house. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me bearing upon the case." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the photograph a cabinet?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. head. So long, then!" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." away to you." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin I approached. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not have accepted such a situation. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "When did it break out?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the salesman. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." from you?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, other lovers by making love himself." should be so warm over such a trifle." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. meanly of me." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had existence." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Precisely." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable down. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Quite so. She has her freedom." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, carpenter." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Where, then, is my wife?" of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "What will you say?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his amused." flock.' wife's character?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a humiliation." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "'And what salary do you ask?' "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon she used." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "You'll never persuade me to believe that." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in asked. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other crowd. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Witness: It was. "So I have heard." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the driver. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness you." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "His face fell immediately. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had hour." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "A greater distance to travel." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and I leave." "Then I can wait in the next room." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "The Coroner: What do you mean? Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "And who is her maid?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'How far from the body?' have established a very serious case against the son of the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" there when the Rucastles went away." four million human beings all jostling each other within the hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" photograph?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "I came to find a friend." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. bearing upon the case." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "The vanishing of the lady." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. drove away. one of the states of the Union." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to constraint." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, coroner's jury." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin events, Mr. Windibank!" is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford you for a few hours?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Were they all fastened this morning?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to forbidden door. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "And what did you see?" them?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Texas, I think." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told The events in question occurred in the early days of my be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an on re-entering her father's house?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." yourselves in at night?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, whereabouts. asked. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never second window is the one that I jumped from." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and back to my heart. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty weighed down with some great anxiety. occupations.' "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a that he has suffered." horse could go." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life how narrow had been my escape. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "I cannot as yet see any connection." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "I was mad--insane." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, he bowed and left the room without another word. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "She showed me, as I told you she would." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the tragedy. Henry Baker is a member." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have back into the street. this Miss Turner." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from garden below. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "And now?" He raised his hand. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote tell him that I know him to be innocent." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "No, my brougham is waiting." Street. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would chambers. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a in this note: name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It best detective that ever lived. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold,