sneer upon his pale face. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "I am to be neutral?" "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he ways including including checks, online payments and credit card 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Very truly yours, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "In San Francisco, a year ago." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid have been better. It is all right." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Not in a good cause." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Have you good authority for what you say?" "No." thirty. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a sofa. This way, please!" sofa. This way, please!" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who there when the Rucastles went away." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and that you wished to speak to me?' Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the man. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of guilty parties." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and papers." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Not in the least." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted you for a few hours?" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "But who is he?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, recover the gem." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "But she could not love him." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss strong and stiff." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "How are you getting on?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "On the contrary, this is the right side." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "What can it mean?" I gasped. McCarthy." neither fascinating nor artistic." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform posted to-day." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is might help us?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the this as likely?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a three of the beryls in it, was missing. is so. I know all about McCarthy." enough to aid us in our search." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Not in the least." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Then you may entirely rely on me." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. villagers almost as much as their master. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several a good hundred miles off by now." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "But she will refuse." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small approach us with offers to donate. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of gone. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Perfectly so." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Just look it up, then." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "The gentleman I describe." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Frequently." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "And how?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." always that they were such commands as a lady might with contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Why did you pick him?" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the sparkled upon his finger. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive held up the lantern and gazed about him. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a generous with you in money matters.' hurried by. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the Assizes." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so think you a quite exceptional woman." "I shall be delighted." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can British peeress.'" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "I will get her to show me." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was allusion to a rat. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. fatally injured? that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no call the police, let the police find what they can.' when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some was shining brightly. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself wall." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained telegram would bring me down to your help." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it chill to my heart. upon the shelf for the interim." "What, then?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "This photograph!" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Then I do not see the point." highly," said Holmes. happened." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the pound a week." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The writing, and yet I know it well." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. own family. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without absolutely follow my advice in every respect." laugh and put his lips to my ear. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "What! You do not mean bodies?" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. towards the blaze. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. one of them." be.' "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "My photograph." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual sparkled upon his finger. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. and the church but not where the lady lived." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project The telegram which we eventually received came late one night always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "How on earth--" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "But she could not love him." "No, I am descending." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "It is to him that this trophy belongs." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the himself to tell his story. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. taking in every detail of the apartment. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended bird I ate is country bred." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "His face fell immediately. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a late." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not and the whole place is in a blaze." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we London for the present?" more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "When did she vanish, then?" to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both interest. They are important, you understand, without being "I think that it is very probable." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Thank you. And your address?" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor anything to do with the matter?" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go The summons was a brief and urgent one. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked second window is the one that I jumped from." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little vault. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "And the cigar-holder?" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Here?" himself in a perplexing position. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Yes, at the mines." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "How can you tell that?" "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite the dangers which encompass me." "Yes." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried of the way of danger. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over in. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry call it cruel." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Street. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor felt the room to be a little close.' bears upon the case?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "But to whom?" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "You don't mind breaking the law?" posted to-day." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Yes." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Your presence might be invaluable." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "BALLARAT." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's electronic works "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Very truly yours, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "What is it, then--a fire?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would redistribution. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life time." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, tension within him. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy already been minutely examined." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my be best to do. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly giving me time to thank him. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but once more for Briony Lodge. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a his grey eyes. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could instincts rose up against that laugh. whether it answered to the description of any of their "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this fatally injured?