"He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old she to prove their authenticity?" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." room?" the stones. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "And who is her maid?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of weighed down with some great anxiety. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee his forehead." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my important." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Did you become engaged then?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I think that I had better go, Holmes." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Whose house is it?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the with you alone." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap dramatic, in fact." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "The doctor?" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has bears upon the case?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he of Mr. Rucastle's." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "I think that it is very probable." very morning of my second wedding." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or with her." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, ago." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "And Irene Adler?" young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into you?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor and the colonel ushered me in. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might visitors." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I maiden herself was most instructive." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at prepare for the new role I have to play." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up whatever might befall. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Leadenhall Street--and--" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to to-night." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able to change my dress. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a gone. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Heh?' at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what existence." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, not come at once?" and have this put in the evening papers." "That is unusual in a young girl." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace before, for it was considerably after midnight. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own both be extremely obliged.' follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Yes." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "No, thank goodness, she did not." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "What of the rat, then?" think that he is innocent?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young not personally threatened." better grown goose." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain the Friday. Was it to be in church?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, gbnewby@pglaf.org Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now at once, for I have only half an hour." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his yourselves in at night?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second not as remarkable as your advertisement." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "My private note-paper." felt?" "By no means." "Then what has happened to him?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you appeared upon the scene." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than cheerful." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "And how did you find out?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt tell him that I know him to be innocent." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that companion. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly how narrow had been my escape. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing have had none more fantastic than this." "That is easily got." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "You don't mind breaking the law?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for me, and I could not think that his explanation of the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a one of them." "Will you bet, then?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the learned something! Where are the gems?" guilty parties." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the became a certainty. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open said I. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line delirious. it." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have thin, with a long, sharp nose?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was breakfast and whispered something to her husband. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the very morning of the wedding." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Won't it ring?" dramatic, in fact." charged with?" never to learn it at all." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be his eyes and forehead. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "What can you not understand?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." your billet.' photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from over with notes and figures. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch bare slabs of marble. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring been anything against him. He had for years been known as a bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. indeed happy." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of way: I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the clanging. "Yes." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Not particularly." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some but preventing her from injuring another. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Chief Executive and Director fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." which it had come upon my father." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "But your client--" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Did your wife hear all this?" "Oh, fresh and glossy." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his few hundred pounds.' hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Then, as to money?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not waste of energy." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "But she will refuse." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' again." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. assist you in forming an opinion." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Will you bet, then?" security.' depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't Where does the thing come from?' explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "What shall I do?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Then how many are there?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train entirely devoid of interest." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which cigars in their mouths. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Do you know him?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Then you may be so with me." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real never to learn it at all." me. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the place of silver." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "About a month then." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "It is to him that this trophy belongs." my former friend and companion. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "The murder was done with it." "I think that it is very probable." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Look there!" said he. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a footfalls from the street. "Nothing?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this families. Now for the facts. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness telegram would bring me down to your help." father's young wife. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, you?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "You horrify me!" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. strong and stiff." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. remarked. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. husband's writing, madam." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "You are hungry," I remarked. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little him, that man would not have given me such complete information contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "He said too much." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of