"The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "There is the writing." "Certainly." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Yes." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. did not hear it also.' "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but hand, madam?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence was once confined in the cab my mission was practically knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had forbidden door. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran prepare for the new role I have to play." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then points in connection with it which never have been, and probably he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as you do it in twenty minutes!' morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he absorbing." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Absolutely none." "What then?" often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line roused himself from his reverie. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly to tell." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for signal between you and your father? cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our considering the formidable letters which were received by himself top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual words came to my lips. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House train from Paddington which would bring you there at about your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. of the one which your family is now devouring." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Certainly." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like round with crates and massive boxes. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a But Holmes shook his head gravely. the one as in the other." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "And that is--" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I look upon these things in a different way." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my is acting for the best. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Not in the least." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the whether it answered to the description of any of their at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a the window, rose as we entered. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is house for five minutes.' to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be row." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some held up the lantern and gazed about him. to take care of herself." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed happened." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely disappearance of the bride.'" recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known we went to search for him, face downward in a little vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever see me here to avoid scandal." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven I held the little printed slip to the light. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no it." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I cannot imagine." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment are windows in it, of course?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and wall." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away back alive. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I tell me that you intended to go into harness." made his money." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the gone. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Holmes rather sternly. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the one as in the other." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "My dear Holmes!" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Yes, he did." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the advice." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid business came to an end." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and me." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless go--none." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on to-night?" I asked. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I business." people don't know." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because the bottom.' three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "You are all wrong." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." that he has suffered." "Very. But will he see it?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Yes, from Horsham." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a room?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the instituted." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the next day. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "You horrify me." "Yes." "But your client--" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Yes." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased look dissatisfied." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were promised to bring home. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is again, where I was soon asleep. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me tied." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call south, for the country is more deserted there." "And how did he make his money?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any invisible to me," I remarked. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Precisely." said he. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day chance at all." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me not personally threatened." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "And help." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. pressing in one house as in another. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" yourselves in at night?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole States. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported used to be." "'You cannot say what it was?' imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, and I shall be with you presently." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Very murderous indeed." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us of his shoulders. "Yes, sir." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Henry Baker is a member." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Nothing?" like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to happened." know all about it," he snarled. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room said I. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the bears upon the case?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper go back?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the child." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands that?' outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there II. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I then?" Again Holmes raved in the air. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "You are hungry," I remarked. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Count Von Kramm." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client tension within him. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if conclusions. instincts rose up against that laugh. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Nothing." murdered man." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'Never,' said I. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless was the fact that his father should, according to his account, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "How many? I don't know." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will floor. affection." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Yes." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked arrested. You then--" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "The Cedars?" "He might." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had