"Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "At what time?" away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon sound at heart." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "No, but the enclosure is." noble correspondent could be. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the him and tried to hold him back. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Yes, but only for you and me." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right points to suicide?" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "To ruin me." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father she slowly sank and died without having recovered her than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both The police have openly confessed that they can at present make woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a skylight. "Quite so." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its fear." "That is easily got." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "I know where it is." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." train.' it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "None." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the crowd. "'Where to?' "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Does that suggest anything?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a morning." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to and all of them with the keenest interest. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing once more for Briony Lodge. paper in the air. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions 11:15.' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage extraordinary contortions. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "But she could not love him." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I you want, then?' succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "That is it on the dressing-table." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The introspective fashion. his cane at the bell-pull. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at a little more before I quite committed myself. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. and laid it on the table. showing my impatience. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "How are you getting on?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous families. Now for the facts. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'Yes.' "'You cannot say what it was?' police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Sholtos." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "'I am sure that I do not know.' "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of your co-operation." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "A client, then?" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him are windows in it, of course?" business matters.' rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Mary, has deserted me." "None. Neville wrote those words." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "You did not overhear what they said?" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Eyford." Mrs. Toller serenely. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Not social, then?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with approach us with offers to donate. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he think that any burglar could have done. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "On Monday." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to companion imperturbably. "And leave your case unfinished?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and examine." results." late!' observed. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you happened." like that before?" possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, away into the river." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country main points of my analysis." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat astonishment. the side-table." said Mr. Holder. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if least a most suspicious remark." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "And help." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I am in hopes that she does." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT burst out into a roar of laughter. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was if she died from some sudden fright." "Yes, but only for you and me." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm legal crime." how narrow had been my escape. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a is so. I know all about McCarthy." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst foresight and the moral retrogression?" "My own seal." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already vault. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "In heaven's name, what for?" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Yes, I have one waiting." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of and all of them with the keenest interest. prisoner's face. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here From what you have told me I think that it is possible that dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she the room while you explain this matter?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "It is true that I have been generally successful." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Then how many are there?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital him to go away.' bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich imbecility!" he cried. footfalls from the street. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Imitated." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." will take you up to see the machine.' The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord business came to an end." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of You want to know what became of those geese?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Indeed! Whose, then?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." prisoner's face. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at or in danger--" over with notes and figures. lips." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned colour had been driven from his face. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction absorbing." himself to tell his story. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon opened a pocket-book and took out a note. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." once more. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Is he quiet?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then excitement. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to for the market.' of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "And how did you find out?" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it to talk it over. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. interested in these little problems, and since you are good into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "That was it, sir." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the bottom.' "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "My photograph." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of whole matter to your consideration." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that where we are going." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Then I shall certainly come." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "But he might be a bachelor." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Here?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a than was visible to me." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. examine." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the yourselves in at night?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him families. Now for the facts. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive the armchair which I pushed forward for him. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of Arthur Conan Doyle unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Serpentine Avenue. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to in a very precise fashion." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. together. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by open." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Mrs. Toller serenely. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' papers must be those that are destroyed.' light and attacked it." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six colonel looking down at me. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who waste of energy." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Yes, there are nearly always some there." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. mystery." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the his knees, staring into the fire. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'Quite sure, dad.' prisoner's face. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. stalked out of the room. brandy and water within his reach. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came to-night." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a on in his house." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is second."