"One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." crackling voice. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far case-book, which he consulted. "And it is--" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Not yet." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the to surprise her." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. one of them." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "But she will refuse." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "No, distinctly professional." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with emerged. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. investigation." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the me what he had done with the three missing stones. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "So I have heard." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the very morning of the wedding." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon you?' with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Well, but China?" other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "But she will refuse." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out absorbing." "Never." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right formed some opinion?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you forecastle of an emigrant ship. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "'Yes, sir.' Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "We were both in the photograph." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "On the contrary, this is the right side." I took the paper from him and read as follows: is so. I know all about McCarthy." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when take the flies, but not before." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did as noiselessly as she had come. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a British peeress.'" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Where, then?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" your Highness to the police-station?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, outside." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Dr. Becher's." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the dramatic, in fact." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. be sorry for having acted so harshly." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "My private note-paper." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I he died? furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And when will you call?" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; John Swain, of St. Augustine. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings outsides of the windows. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "I see no marks." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "He disappeared so suddenly." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "I cannot as yet see any connection." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Proceed, then." and capable of preserving a secret.' "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "How did you deduce the select?" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "It came here." and no precautions can guard against." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about upon a handsome competence. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." looking up at the numbers of the houses." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "None." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project cigar and let me expound." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late I was concerned in it." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "I see many objections to any such theory." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid your Highness to the police-station?" gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for to miss it." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have geese which you supplied to the Alpha." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, affection." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Yesterday." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "'And what salary do you ask?' "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the tension within him. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a he bowed and left the room without another word. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Yes, only one." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate to change my dress. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "'And the work?' But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Has he come with you to-night?" hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "My Mary? Impossible!" any." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point here and I will read it to you: I am not easy in my mind about them." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Absolutely?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending place of silver." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain His name is Francis Prosper." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "You were travelling in the States?" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' made his money." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to locked. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With conversation I have gathered that they have been married about opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, you give your casting vote to?" "What are they?" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing again, where I was soon asleep. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That notes," he said. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Here?" on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of all-comprehensive glances. through." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. thirty. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this you." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "He is still with you, I presume?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Certainly." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I of them has the shutters up.' Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "You will not go there first?" dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "But she will refuse." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Who by?" the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been might help us?" "Yes, only one." posted to-day." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "And the murderer?" footfalls from the street. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." for and were ordered to this address. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Ha! you find it so?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is that there was nothing in it, after all." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a done what I asked you, Jones?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he enter into my head. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor companion imperturbably. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have I shall communicate with you." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out me." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "But you would not advise me to refuse?" on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Has he come with you to-night?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing what I may call a really hard day's work." Leadenhall Street--and--" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. system of imprisonment?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the tail." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "You have carte blanche." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Ample." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "We must have a cab." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Yes, certainly." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing entirely devoid of interest." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "How are you getting on?" public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. himself to tell his story. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to is worth.' are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "'Where to?' lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated union?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning question. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people prepare for the new role I have to play." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the hands. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely