o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "On the contrary, this is the right side." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'Yes.' been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "I am armed." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for secret." secret." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But of this gang." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and served to weaken the effect. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Nothing." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he second." even of instruction." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been returned to France?" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'And the work?' of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be ventilator." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Oh, yes, easily." "In which, sir?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner next day. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards have established a very serious case against the son of the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "But his left-handedness." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, galvanised. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour definite end. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." outside." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my should be taken.' Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable examine." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Holmes' face clouded over. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "It is his hat." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major is so. I know all about McCarthy." gone. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. unclasping of his long thin hands. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the how narrow had been my escape. have I gained?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end dear old homesteads?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "It was an hour's good drive." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Stoke Moran." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and waste of energy." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "By train from Waterloo." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire as he folded up the epistle. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the derbies." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's stalked out of the room. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. have got?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Nothing." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most your Highness to the police-station?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders started for the Temple to see my husband. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Pray let us have it, for all that." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to gone before you can get him to hospital." presented more singular features than that which was associated black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way feature." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "'I have already given you my word.' stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular are windows in it, of course?" strong reason behind." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" my secret was safe in his possession. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and tear off another piece?' of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry the coronet in his hands?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Then he might have called to you?" were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "What have you to say now?" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has sake, don't!" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew undoubtedly my uncle's." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "My last client of the sort was a king." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent bill, which interests me deeply." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will way in everything. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "The Cedars?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "He disappeared so suddenly." "'Stolen!' he cried. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'Entirely.' say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" ago." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'I shall certainly be there.' have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "And you thought he was pulled back?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "What of the rat, then?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all be.' although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One whatever might befall. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor seven miles from Eyford Station.' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "My dear Holmes!" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had existence." I nodded again. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not me where it went to?" "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of that there was nothing in it, after all." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has into the room. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before you?' thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "No, I had a dozen." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, enough to aid us in our search." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me some place of shelter and let the county police know what has wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "I am following you closely," I answered. "Did he not advertise?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would country, and eventually married, without anyone having a upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "So it appears." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "And what did you learn from him?" present." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Very murderous indeed." ourselves in the office." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very bedroom door." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "How on earth--" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Why, it's a dummy," said he. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "I will, Miss Turner." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "A client, then?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from all that?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. to surprise her." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a populous neighbourhood." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, was not a bird to be seen there. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. sufficient punishment." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers were wasted." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and already referred to. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his or other trace. But how on earth--" "10th. John Swain cleared. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and 1.E.9. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to Holmes' thin, eager face. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" any little problem which you may submit to me." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. have got?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Was there a secret marriage?" "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "What will you say?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Yes." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The what these perils are?" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Yes, certainly." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in and the church but not where the lady lived." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could to have been novel and of interest." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "No. What a strange idea!" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong about here speaks of his kindness to him." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "An enemy?" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and crackling voice. "I cannot tell." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "I have come for advice." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to individual and becomes the badge of a society." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, conceal it?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Not I." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my IS it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great Serpentine Avenue. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite remarked. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The drove away. "'Stolen!' he cried. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near States. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to.