I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "What! a murderous attack?" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of companion quietly. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always appeared upon the scene." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." to-night?" I asked. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it seen the man in the road." people in all walks of life. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a always that they were such commands as a lady might with of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! notes," he said. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Count Von Kramm." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "It is half-past ten now." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one side. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so own family. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew way in everything. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is to take care of herself." spare." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "10th. John Swain cleared. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Then you may be so with me." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly views." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this memory. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. have not had my rubber." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since Mrs. Toller serenely. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to and capable of preserving a secret.' road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "To an English lawyer named Norton." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "'A dozen yards or so.' "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was tapping his fingers upon the table. to surprise her." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Eyford." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you to take care of herself." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Young McCarthy must be got off, however." some terrible trap for her." politicians who had been sent down from the North. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "He said too much." "I would give my fortune to have them back." you." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "And now?" He raised his hand. "It was an hour's good drive." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though charged with?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a colonel looking down at me. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "By no means." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "In answer to an advertisement." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "What of the rat, then?" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was visitors." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some more terrible than the truth. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that six. Come in!" and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "'As governess?' flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "It is half-past ten now." "Murdered?" trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone to a light-house. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old views." Mrs. Toller serenely. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." rooms." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project present." "Have you her photograph?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Street. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Game for a morning drive?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "'I am sure that I do not know.' go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Not yet." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "'Certainly,' I answered. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been them?" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. fear." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look the bottom.' our word." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met could gather together that I was able to avert another public "The landlord of the Alpha." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Stolen." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Ten will be early enough." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was went to the Alpha were town bred." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Holmes' face clouded over. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "You have compromised yourself seriously." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "So I heard. You have him here?" police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Yes." happened." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking during that time.' one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit 'please.'" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Heh?' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Yes, only one." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than begin with, and I had not got mine yet." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more of the vacancies.' "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property hands. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "So it appears." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Holmes. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "And Miss Sutherland?" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Yes, at the mines." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Then you may be so with me." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held stammered. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as fishes. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone mystery." was lame." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to name is different." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "It is true that I have been generally successful." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Well, it is a possible supposition." foot. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John all?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "And it is--" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "How did you trace it, then?" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do seen the man in the road." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "'I have heard so.' the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "It looks newer than the other things?" Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. and the whole place is in a blaze." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note walking." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your in one or two places in England?' "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set of the vacancies.' be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I had formerly been in part my own. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'And what salary do you ask?' carried out of court." read it out to me." at my remark. that?' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "I do." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William have established a very serious case against the son of the once more for Briony Lodge. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." vault. Munro.' and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained