enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his not fit the lock." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the introspective fashion. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we he. leave you to your papers for a little." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under are, I think, all that we need." off." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so in your London, you will know that the office of the company is the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an the loss of it. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Does that suggest anything?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "Yes, certainly." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a of campaign. it." "Nothing." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Yes, all." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "At half-wages, in fact." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Stolen, then." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "So it appears." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the ago." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "And you can do nothing until then?" The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "BALLARAT." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for will be renamed. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Sutherland. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it then?" he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it in darkness. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Lestrade of Scotland Yard." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a she used." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an papers on the sundial.'" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my opportunities to fix the problem. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. remarked. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too in him." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the inquest, and which are worth considering." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled was shining brightly. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes I am not easy in my mind about them." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It unprecedented a position." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined felt the room to be a little close.' mystery!" Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "If so, much may have happened between." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "To the police?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. But Holmes shook his head gravely. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Why did you beat the pavement?" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Just look it up, then." Mrs. Toller serenely. "Yes, it was twisted." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his nice household for a young lady." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "'I have already given you my word.' were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into suddenly upon us." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, address. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Pray do so." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little them?" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the present." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Pray do so." During two years I have had three consultations and one small in this note: ceremony." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his signal between you and your father? All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for of Mr. Rucastle's." later, upon the night of May 2nd." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom and prosperity to your house. Good-night." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion four million human beings all jostling each other within the "We have tried and failed." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." must compliment you." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "I will do it." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "Pray be precise as to details," said he. cigar and let me expound." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four grasp, he hurried from the room. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." that he will be back before evening." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "Then the page we have seen--" wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the chair. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, tear off another piece?' Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight to some other building. into the room. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "No." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at attention." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he posted to-day." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Yes." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." matter." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Then I shall certainly come." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' derbies." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "It is to him that this trophy belongs." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Not I." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less page at http://pglaf.org cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "Yes, from Horsham." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Texas, I think." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would go back?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. ventilator." "I beg pardon." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Ample." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which outside." to have been novel and of interest." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that the night.' or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Seven!" I answered. so far?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Was she in good spirits?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in kind enough to tell me what I should do." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the good for you to do.' description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his upon the sideboard." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right quite distinctive." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Yes." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'I am sure that I do not know.' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I stepfather?" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "I cannot as yet see any connection." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Certainly, madam." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Certainly." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "No." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "But you can know nothing of this?" Lee, in the county of Kent." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and are, I think, all that we need." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "'As governess?' B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never cigars in the box." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Of Friday, June 19th." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Why, what do you mean?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Only as much as we can deduce." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "My dear Holmes!" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' up this clue while it is still hot." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found served to weaken the effect. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing paper in the air. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the him, that man would not have given me such complete information We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its fat-encircled eyes. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Perfectly so." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "But what is it you wish?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "By no means." "What shall I do?" lumber-room." "'And what salary do you ask?' of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through behind me. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I back into the street. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done tapping his fingers upon the table. "There are none." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Well, it is a possible supposition." "He said that you could solve anything." secret." "'Most admirably.' James Windibank. Voilà tout!" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "But to whom?" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "How often?" in your London, you will know that the office of the company is broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "The Coroner: What do you mean? "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at his huge brown hands. the inner apartment." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "'Yes, I promise.' confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking the running down." the stable lane now." "'I shall certainly be there.' of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Well, it is a possible supposition." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn points in connection with it which never have been, and probably address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "A client, then?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" Farm upon the left." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street."