must be when I saw the door open.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after subject to the trademark license, especially commercial happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he gbnewby@pglaf.org will find little credit to be gained out of this case." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John made him keep the appointment." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the desk. "Certainly." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would III. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. he. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the in your London, you will know that the office of the company is floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "But she could not love him." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the them, and came down just as you departed. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the Countess of Morcar's?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now fait accompli?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? residence of the great financier. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to but preventing her from injuring another. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "No, I am descending." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. habit of advancing money.' up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed present." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, been deceived." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." through." little trying to do so much typewriting?" other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between him to be an active member of the medical profession." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the his huge brown hands. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Well, it is a possible supposition." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His rose-bushes. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to least a most suspicious remark." "'Then let me do so?' "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have hair?' it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can back to my heart. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "But you can know nothing of this?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than to me. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was business." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "I am armed." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Cross for the Continent." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Yes, it would be as well." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where business?" "And leave your case unfinished?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "How did that help you?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much do.' the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out ceremony." instincts rose up against that laugh. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Pray do so." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "The landlord of the Alpha." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round past. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that bell. Holmes whistled. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I cannot tell." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical following enigmatical notices: where she found matters as described by the last witness. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from certainly do as you advise." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of even of instruction." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the on re-entering her father's house?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "It surprised me." writing, and yet I know it well." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Could he throw no light?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you note?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "What will you say?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Dr. Becher's." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "And you can do nothing until then?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and head. So long, then!" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a forehead. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence or in danger--" in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for promised to bring home. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "My opinion is in no way altered." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked you?' "And how in the world did you find them?" "Come in!" said he. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Then he might have called to you?" abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he any little problem which you may submit to me." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that happened." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low call for it in person on Monday morning.' shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, matter." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, outsides of the windows. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Why? What do you mean?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every photograph a cabinet?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "He is dead," cried several voices. man. his cane at the bell-pull. and the whole place is in a blaze." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." indiscretion." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that them, and came down just as you departed. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in and inquire as to the address." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to back to my heart. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the coat-tails." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Mrs. Toller serenely. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, him." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." speckled band?" The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. might have a private word with us. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "'And the work?' was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I was certainly surprised to find you there." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Proceed, then." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" as he remarks, very much against the son." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "And your mother is alive?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our arms and began to sob in a high treble key. October 9, 1890. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all with you alone." "A greater distance to travel." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the several quiet little villages up there." "Oh, yes, easily." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such this truth that in these little records of our cases which you form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And why in hopes?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and open." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by help us in this matter." detained." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "I never have." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. disappearance of these gems?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "'Stolen!' he cried. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate it? Did I buy the geese off you?" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes copied or distributed: "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the his huge brown hands. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full than to us. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "My dear Holmes!" at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our presume?" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the nonsense.' Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "I cannot think." Sutherland. for the market.' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'Is 4 pounds a week.' located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had opened the door, and slipped through. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Then you may be so with me." the coronet at all injured?" door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they was a loud and authoritative tap. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, that I am arrested." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." in this note: Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately in. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "The King of Scandinavia." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, married her." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the speckled band?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "And help." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "And I say east," said my patient. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the happened." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I thought that she would have been so carried away." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. house for five minutes.' as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Have you it here?" chair. interests were the same as his." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is your room." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" your Highness to the police-station?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed whatever might befall. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the burst out into a roar of laughter. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of in this note: my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature conduct the inquiry." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "He is dead," cried several voices. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the here." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without tear off another piece?' "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and