"What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer and all of them with the keenest interest. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "'And what salary do you ask?' really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "I assure you that I am in your hands." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a paper in the air. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a threw himself down with his face to the pillow. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in your only hope of safety." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far system of imprisonment?" chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, residence of the great financier. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to asked. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. the stones. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "No more words. Get out!" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "You will not go there first?" in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Dr. Becher's." "'Most admirably.' subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "'Why that?' I asks. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had recover the gem." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "'Yes, I promise.' valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police new acquaintance to Baker Street. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "I cannot imagine." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment lost his Christmas dinner." "'I am sure that I do not know.' it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "'Which dealer's?' "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Have you it here?" the ceiling. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Tired-looking or fresh?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out too. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. sooner or later she must fall a victim. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst sound at heart." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "You are hungry," I remarked. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "I cannot imagine." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to at my remark. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in again on its way. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my hopeless attempt at recovering them." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "And what did you see?" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Look there!" said he. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Surrey." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Do you go out much in society?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. with you alone." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Again Holmes raved in the air. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, and all of them with the keenest interest. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor be sorry for having acted so harshly." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. waste of energy." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the inquest, and which are worth considering." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I then?" was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to of this gang." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' an introduction to him?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. my room." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature man. whole matter to your consideration." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "No, I had a dozen." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said article?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle perplexity from it to my illustrious client. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Yes, sir." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "But how?" reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Munro.' "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in over with notes and figures. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, ago." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my of Fenchurch Street." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. know what is wrong with it.' in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came outside." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds cost them two and thirty pounds." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of generous with you in money matters.' pierced for earrings?" Edgeware Road. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly followed. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. trifles." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "I see no marks." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been begin with, and I had not got mine yet." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry cigars in their mouths. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "And what did you see?" whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an orange pips. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, directly by questioning you." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't something of him before." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the will be renamed. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the these bleak autumnal evenings." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. was not a bird to be seen there. bird I ate is country bred." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was October 9, 1890. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it easy-going way." of the way of danger. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project presented more singular features than that which was associated only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "But to whom?" am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. only touch the interest." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Entirely." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to interests were the same as his." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and get her out of the way." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "That also I could fathom." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and returned to France?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of of note-paper. It read in this fashion: trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a chance." "Not I." Sutherland. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with lectures into a series of tales." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will remarked. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "What will you say?" where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, within hail.' anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right bonnet, and went out." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "What do you mean?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Oh, fresh and glossy." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Have you good authority for what you say?" my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting strength in the others." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the strong reason behind." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." the room while you explain this matter?" this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "No, my brougham is waiting." which it had come upon my father." dead, shall be safe with us." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for together. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "And leave your case unfinished?" him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring that he has suffered." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Not social, then?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "By train from Waterloo." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of completely overtopped every other consideration that we both for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man be sorry for having acted so harshly." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish happened." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you that I can to serve you." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'And the work?' an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Sutherland. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that was a loud and authoritative tap. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Just look it up, then." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, dates and names. obstinate." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a pressing in one house as in another. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your seem to you to be relevant or not." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her look dissatisfied." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect the little opening for the ventilator is." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears questionable one." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid me what he had done with the three missing stones. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Imitated." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "I have come for advice." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where see me here to avoid scandal." distinguish the words: remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not awkward doing business with an alias." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a photograph?" thin, with a long, sharp nose?" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, his face. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "He said too much." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot closely." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to in your London, you will know that the office of the company is the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "I shall most certainly do so." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, you do it in twenty minutes!' well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had