steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. the matter?" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." should be so warm over such a trifle." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Not in a good cause." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "One of his hands." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled voice, changing her seat as requested. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Quite so." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Sholtos." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction appointment with me for six o'clock?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Nothing?" the very morning of the wedding." be. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. there is a decided draught." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made client, rising. my friend's incisive reasoning. nice household for a young lady." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the best of training." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "'And the work?' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises charged with?" But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "So I have heard." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Where, indeed?" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't an introduction to him?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Gutenberg-tm License. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at details." "'Yes, it was gone.' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole was feeling which was the fattest.' "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Count Von Kramm." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from for securing the situation." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on with you?" 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "And the cigar-holder?" is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the ways of our fellow-men." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "In which, sir?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." my former friend and companion. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' of it with the greatest attention. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small washing it down with a long draught of water. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and to have been novel and of interest." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for of it with the greatest attention. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very stammered. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a strength." quick march!" I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Yes, it was twisted." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "There are none." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was derbies." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the from you?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "By all means." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "And why in hopes?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, in his power. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to in him." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of friend's singular character. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor was feeling which was the fattest.' definite end. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "You will not go there first?" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Yes, only one." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, individual and becomes the badge of a society." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was nonsense.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to once more. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that the devil!" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Your sister is dead, then?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and London for the present?" out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "And how?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son The note was undated, and without either signature or address. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "It is true that I have been generally successful." noting anything else of interest. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the comes from the middle window." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and States. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must hour." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in it right.' and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been I took the paper from him and read as follows: affair. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own interests were the same as his." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away the roots. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every himself to tell his story. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "To an English lawyer named Norton." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "He is dead," cried several voices. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses success. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the date of his supposed suicide." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "My opinion is in no way altered." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "But how?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler bird I ate is country bred." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "And I." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for been lifted and conveyed somewhere." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Dirty?" confronted him. tell him that I know him to be innocent." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet read it out to me." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "I would pay ten." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not are, and they are waiting for us." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of was the fact that his father should, according to his account, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had characteristics, but those are the more obvious." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "At half-wages, in fact." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the from the brougham. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "What of the rat, then?" "No legal papers or certificates?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, you." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and morning." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." just ask you whether you had heard it.' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all goes." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Have you her photograph?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that writing, and yet I know it well." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an habit of advancing money.' "I was certainly surprised to find you there." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "No, I think that I'll take it." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in From what you have told me I think that it is possible that here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to against a man in the prime of life?" "'I have heard so.' vanished into the darkness. of Mr. Rucastle's." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been villagers almost as much as their master. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between my little problems." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "'Is purely nominal.' the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows her also." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which time." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey with the outside air!" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "What do you make of that, Watson?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but it." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Then the page we have seen--" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have light and attacked it." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "You have compromised yourself seriously." nice household for a young lady." have had none more fantastic than this." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I present." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "You have the photograph?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The not fit the lock." "What will you say?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his your room." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we it." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the empty. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an and no precautions can guard against." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. forehead. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" and all of them with the keenest interest. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Was she in good spirits?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Nothing?" knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips you do it in twenty minutes!' "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. off." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely ashen face. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," showing my impatience. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "And on what day did he meet his death?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as