I leave." "The King of Scandinavia." is," said he presently: "And that is--" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "But it has twice been burgled." to a more successful conclusion." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "My last client of the sort was a king." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when a monotonous occupation." "It is solved." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "How did you trace it, then?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the lips." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "I have a cab outside." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "And I." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "A thing like a cleaver," said he. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, matters immensely." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me four million human beings all jostling each other within the A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows true." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no points to suicide?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I went to the Alpha were town bred." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, in my life." other, as fresh and trim as possible. "And why?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "What, then?" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Quite so." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would James Windibank. Voilà tout!" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace public press." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Eh? What was that?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed ready to-morrow?' "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Precisely." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent your troubles." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "I see many objections to any such theory." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., you." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Very much so." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and words came to my lips. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "My private note-paper." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having where she found matters as described by the last witness. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two round with crates and massive boxes. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided unprofitable." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to that you wished to speak to me?' "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "I say that I have solved it." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. of his shoulders. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed as the one I chose?' such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could orange pips. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was along the entire front of the house, with three long windows they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily your bag." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Did you become engaged then?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been writer." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the had picked up in the wood. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich o'clock is it?" orange pips. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after felt the room to be a little close.' would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." heavy and sharp instrument." ourselves in the office." "Just look it up, then." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this article?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is I nodded to show that I had heard. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge business." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. that he has suffered." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "But of what society?" he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and someone who had been in Australia." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "How often?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "What will you do, then?" "Did he not advertise?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a distinguish the words: main points of my analysis." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to maiden herself was most instructive." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting said I. "Breckinridge is his name." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman you, my dear young lady?' an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler Lestrade of Scotland Yard." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was interests were the same as his." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw happened." "Frequently." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, furiously. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his prison!" absorbing." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace your sleep?' about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "My Mary? Impossible!" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the there!' along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "So I am. Very much so." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was people in all walks of life. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his if she died from some sudden fright." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too soul! here is her carriage at the door." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the papers on the sundial.'" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "'Never.' utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "You know me, then?" "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I have seen the police." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "'It is locked up,' I answered. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said be there in time for your coming." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "'I have heard so.' it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "I cannot tell." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." was a lad." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as knowledge of the world." felt?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "It certainly sounds feasible." really the only notable feature about the thing." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "I will, Miss Turner." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Then you may entirely rely on me." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Her father is very rich?" even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the and no precautions can guard against." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and not as remarkable as your advertisement." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." not fit the lock." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his imbecility!" he cried. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "I do." Mrs. Toller serenely. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" help us in this matter." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Just look it up, then." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in gone. which our visitor detailed to us. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "But of what society?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him nothing of it?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same You can understand that this register and diary may implicate sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; been anything against him. He had for years been known as a foresight and the moral retrogression?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you placed his cuttings. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Holmes' thin, eager face. voice. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Then I do not see the point." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The II. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the sooner or later she must fall a victim. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the matter." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the is," said he presently: "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting himself to hunt down. "And sit in the dark?" delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become she has been waylaid. There has been no result." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "In what way?" asked Holmes. "I should like to see him very much." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew must be when I saw the door open.' "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" III. http://gutenberg.net/license). "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "'Most admirably.' he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper friends, not even his own brother. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Nothing?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "No bad?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "None." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: the nursery. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had pressing in one house as in another. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A