would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "By no means." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, beg that you will break it off." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "But his lameness?" "And it is--" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the acted in my house last night?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Oh, yes, easily." the so-precious time, but come!' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed points in connection with it which never have been, and probably not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from just ask you whether you had heard it.' "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, spare." "What can you not understand?" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and begun to whiten, even as mine has." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name could not have written that. It is the German who is so he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "My stepfather's business papers." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my outside. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. seven miles from Eyford Station.' was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that important." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this had picked up in the wood. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up acquaintance?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Yes." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in without success. At last the little money which I had saved began through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "I have hopes." know that the truth is known." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the business?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of your billet.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to village inn over there?" "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Why serious?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just papers diligently of late, have you not?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his had picked up in the wood. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to yourselves in at night?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money the coronet in his hands?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, indeed happy." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "The Cedars?" "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, never will be, entirely cleared up. bird of prey. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now distance from the station, and there we found the young lady hereditary King of Bohemia." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about footfalls from the street. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile excitement. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms outside. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a neither fascinating nor artistic." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very But Holmes shook his head gravely. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. and put his glass in his pocket. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "I am all attention, madam." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, you in your example." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are bled considerably." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest events than those which have happened in my own family." feature." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle during which he might have communicated with his friend the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair I held the little printed slip to the light. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from my little problems." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Nor running a chance of arrest?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, lost nothing by them." British peeress.'" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and something of him before." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." any little problem which you may submit to me." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the to tell." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last down in his armchair and closing his eyes. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring said he at last. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' own family. cheerful." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "The Coroner: What do you mean? occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Only as much as we can deduce." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he crowd. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "'Is purely nominal.' beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital do.' every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I straightened it out again. "Of what day?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a during that time.' "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper the dangers which encompass me." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one likely to be some crony of the landlady's." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just I nodded to show that I had heard. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. and inquire as to the address." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well nothing with him." "I will get her to show me." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "'Ample.' ways including including checks, online payments and credit card home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make retorted upon me, and I on you." "It is possible." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "But we can't all be." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the inner apartment." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but without a word or a look. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the dead, shall be safe with us." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able several quiet little villages up there." not personally threatened." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at horse could go." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' spark where all is dark to me." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to shaken than I had ever seen him. less than 26s. 4d. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE chambers. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no happened." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a more terrible than the truth. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were carried out of court." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The she has been waylaid. There has been no result." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have man. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then charge against him will break down." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the stones. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in them?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: tell them apart.' "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Breckinridge is his name." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside if I call to-morrow?" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she to-night." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Will you bet, then?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many figure." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if tension within him. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my impression behind it as though a window had gently closed fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other I was concerned in it." depend upon my doing so.' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Then you may entirely rely on me." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. to have been novel and of interest." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" 1.E.9. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Yes." tail." the coronet in his hands?" was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have charged with?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer London for the present?" examination of the premises, but without finding anything which upon an income of about 60 pounds." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a Again Holmes raved in the air. of." "Where is it, then?" visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." photograph?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. lips." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. pierced for earrings?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience experiences." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. peculiar to him. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, think that he is innocent?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the address that was given us in the advertisement. "And how did you verify them?" closing the door. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, was a lad."