"What is it, then--a fire?" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the child." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did upon the sideboard." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Yes." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, better grown goose." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "If so, much may have happened between." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Well, it is a possible supposition." Leadenhall Street--and--" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "You are hungry," I remarked. "That is unusual in a young girl." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'Where to?' the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as he died? chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the ceiling. never came back." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together it." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its of the vacancies.' collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Your presence might be invaluable." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every presume?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other with you?" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which clanging. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is cigars in the box." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It before the coroner and the police-court." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been neither fascinating nor artistic." only touch the interest." is," said he presently: before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "On Monday." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; problems help me to do so." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." wedding?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of felt the room to be a little close.' convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Certainly." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "But your client--" "You have the photograph?" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "VIOLET HUNTER." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I fear not." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "How do you know, then?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "None. Neville wrote those words." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely means taking possession of that which another person has a prior bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he their singular warning or token before them when starting upon ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to in his power. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice me, and I could not think that his explanation of the certainly do as you advise." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, words came to my lips. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Who by?" wedding?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case lectures into a series of tales." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a business matters.' presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "'You doubt its value?' he asked. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the voice, changing her seat as requested. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at three fields round his house, and there he would take his again on its way. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I soul! here is her carriage at the door." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "What?" as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his bed dies. Does not that strike you?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Street. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard do you make of it all?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. on re-entering her father's house?" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, at my remark. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite begin with, and I had not got mine yet." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "ARAT," I read. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you within hail.' Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Countess of Morcar's?" suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several prove to be little relation between the different incidents of deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "My private note-paper." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Come in!" said Holmes. crime." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "The rest you will leave in our hands." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "In heaven's name, what for?" during that time.' error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram on re-entering her father's house?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" late!' far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "I should like to see him very much." o'clock is it?" "Precisely." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at leaning back in his chair. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "It is no ordinary one." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Well." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "It is a murder, then?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, papers must be those that are destroyed.' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Doctor, of the paper and the date." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the so far?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." views." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of call it cruel." You want to know what became of those geese?" carried out of court." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was character. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "'Entirely.' the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Farm upon the left." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Then I am your man." shall not find me ungrateful." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly about. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements him to go away.' "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." an introduction to him?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the the ceiling. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. papers on the sundial.'" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if himself. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "And what then?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no results." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable directors, with the result that you have seen." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, child?' seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "You have it, sir, just as it happened." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "And the murderer?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my leaning back in his chair. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the the stable lane now." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Certainly." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Nor running a chance of arrest?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "You'll never persuade me to believe that." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A was lame." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "How often?" "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." through." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "What can you not understand?" me." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of matters immensely." very old mansion. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "'Very good.' thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, flock.' introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. other means.' elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary face and glided from the room. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage forecastle of an emigrant ship. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too God! What an exposure! What can I do?" o'clock is it?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in copied or distributed: slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at death." few hundred pounds.' "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "I think that it is very probable." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the colour had been driven from his face. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from very old mansion. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "No." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport about. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Yes." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good business?" "How are you getting on?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: on in his house." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length with the outside air!" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. forehead. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Then what has happened to him?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you own family. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was