the roots. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the fattened it expressly for you.' their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the there!' all?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle for and were ordered to this address. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across could not have written that. It is the German who is so He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an train.' father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "It was an hour's good drive." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with this remarkable episode. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "It is possible." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Look there!" said he. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose is now desirous of getting those letters back." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at society." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots me. "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "A client, then?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. views." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked bird of prey. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of name is different." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself Edgeware Road. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought *** START: FULL LICENSE *** about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual him to go away.' "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is tension within him. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." charged with?" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "There is the writing." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week and all of them with the keenest interest. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to villagers almost as much as their master. this man was intellectual?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Where did he live, then?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came indeed which he could not unravel. unprecedented a position." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of bachelor.' furiously. the King without delay." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. lectures into a series of tales." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my him, that man would not have given me such complete information his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of ago." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "I promise," said Holmes. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "By no means." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to the tragedy. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the tragedy. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the to arrive at through this?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "How did you deduce the select?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the ceiling. and wait." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "What of the rat, then?" happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for sake, don't!" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." asked. "Yes." him to go away.' plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently we went to search for him, face downward in a little very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Whose house is it?" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' so.' Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "She told me to ask you." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive were new raised from a basin. "And why?" approach us with offers to donate. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have away into the river." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Of Friday, June 19th." approach us with offers to donate. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and society." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he dates and names. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I thin legs towards the fire. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the warnings." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "This photograph!" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the tail." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that noting anything else of interest. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "You horrify me." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, returning from some small jollification and was making his way you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and case before our client came into the room." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon less than 26s. 4d. conduct the inquiry." asked with his eyes open. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you shall not find me ungrateful." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went might have a private word with us. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he washing it down with a long draught of water. "And how have you succeeded?" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was photograph?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "None." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I neither fascinating nor artistic." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, unkempt, staring out at me. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the events, Mr. Windibank!" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I have hopes." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. some water from a caraffe. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of place, I think that there is good ground to think that the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt views." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now you?" outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, I nodded to show that I had heard. is now desirous of getting those letters back." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly back into the street. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our generous with you in money matters.' up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the weary and pale-looking. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it front of me. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. house for five minutes.' likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save in my life." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly away in different directions, and I went off to make my own he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, me." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the an introduction to him?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "I have solved it." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Then what has happened to him?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small the inquest, and which are worth considering." of this gang." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers will find little credit to be gained out of this case." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, thirty. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Yes, certainly." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical events, Mr. Windibank!" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have outsides of the windows. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Did your wife hear all this?" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting into the room. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Mary, has deserted me." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On several quiet little villages up there." "Come in!" said Holmes. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Of what?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "I will try. What is it?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "No sign of it?" stalked out of the room. "Your sister is dead, then?" but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 six. Come in!" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of works. "And I." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Well." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know