possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "I don't believe it." our word." experiences." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness with frightened eyes at his accuser. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have you." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your rose-bushes. over part of the map. "What do you read?" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "'Oh, no.' believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to did not hear it also.' "Oh, yes, easily." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Yes, sir." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' examination of the premises, but without finding anything which as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "They are typewritten," I remarked. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank in his power. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend papers must be those that are destroyed.' mystery!" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "'You doubt its value?' he asked. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "And your father? Did you tell him?" trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone which should have the effect of calling the attention of the closing the door. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Again Holmes raved in the air. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Yes." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You it. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a business matters.' yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. that?' the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack it right.' name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil front of the hall door has given its name to the place. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as the salesman. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry 1.E.9. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Of what?" A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Thank you. Pray proceed." character. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle happened." you understand?" dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such straighten it?" "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to very morning of my second wedding." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless answer." colour had been driven from his face. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so might have a private word with us. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going acted in my house last night?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "That is it on the dressing-table." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "No bad?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Yes, only one." delighted to hear it," he said. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "I have seen the police." "I am still in the dark." affection." away into the river." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I am still in the dark." ready to-morrow?' a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "No. What a strange idea!" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic eavesdroppers?' ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Yes." emerged. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since been able to understand it, in a very few words. voice, changing her seat as requested. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the chill to my heart. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "In answer to an advertisement." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from everything which you would wish to know." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting my little problems." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you giving me time to thank him. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a You can understand that this register and diary may implicate letters?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to them?" at once, for I have only half an hour." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the awaited us upon the table. "But what harm can there be in that?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." straightened it out again. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Ah!" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Yes, all." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Not particularly." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Stoke Moran." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Holmes rather sternly. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Upon what point?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away call it cruel." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every weary and pale-looking. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "'In my own bureau.' discontent upon his features. pressing in one house as in another. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all weapon." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened never to learn it at all." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told details." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "And help." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two the general public were present, then?" "That is it on the dressing-table." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Why, it's a dummy," said he. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, orange pips. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "'Yes, sir.' Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind her also." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties respectable self." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in straightened it out again. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "I guessed as much." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "10th. John Swain cleared. politicians who had been sent down from the North. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "And is that all?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the highly," said Holmes. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "But how did you gain them?" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a hardly wander." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens skylight. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he in a very precise fashion." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of DAMAGE. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Very truly yours, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Come in!" said Holmes. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Can I be of assistance?" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little empty. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of suggested at once that there must be a communication between the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Witness: Nothing definite. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "It missed him, then?" "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could what I may call a really hard day's work." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'You cannot say what it was?' and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Where, then, is my wife?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the tail." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. one's self under obligations.' shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I dramatic, in fact." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. into the bag, and made for the door. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Yes." salesman. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "I came to find a friend." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can appeal." chamber." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for burst out into a roar of laughter. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "The murder was done with it." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has it." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "And the murderer?" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself how narrow had been my escape. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several joking. "Get out!" said he. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any before, for it was considerably after midnight. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into works. See paragraph 1.E below. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington me where it went to?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "But she will refuse." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other