"Breckinridge is his name." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Why serious?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Game for a morning drive?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "What then?" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were learned something! Where are the gems?" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the our word." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a there!' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Certainly." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the lost nothing by them." outsides of the windows. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. copied or distributed: "Ample." not personally threatened." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen me upon any point which I do not make clear." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were later, upon the night of May 2nd." the stones. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My taking in every detail of the apartment. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you records." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend where we are going." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': will not take me long to tell. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "No, distinctly professional." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "No?" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Mary, has deserted me." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "But his left-handedness." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a bird I ate is country bred." "'Where to?' "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be room had already been engaged for us. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "And I." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' to me. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "No sign of it?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "No." "Oh, fresh and glossy." "By no means." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "It certainly sounds feasible." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was too. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it know all about it," he snarled. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is pound a week." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Nothing." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and shaken than I had ever seen him. the Assizes." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "And your mother is alive?" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Absolutely none." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say a room. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a all?" "By all means." "At the wedding breakfast." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very a room. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Nothing." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him the general public were present, then?" "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin families. Now for the facts. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "At half-wages, in fact." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers to a light-house. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known remarked. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money an introduction to him?" upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud exactly what you advise." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, occurred." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the for and were ordered to this address. "Your presence might be invaluable." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set all that?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, the coronet at all injured?" done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these leave you to your papers for a little." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you detained." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any know that the truth is known." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It locked. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." situation." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which is four-and-twenty." "BALLARAT." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened read it out to me." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "'Not at all. I only doubt--' immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. conceal it?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We presume?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was little trying to do so much typewriting?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "'It is locked up,' I answered. name is different." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "And your father? Did you tell him?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and during that time.' "Why, what do you mean?" nonsense.' it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, telegram would bring me down to your help." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford License. You must require such a user to return or bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us that I may have something better before very many minutes are conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "That is possible." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the business in the City. She little knew what. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Come in!" said he. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Well?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the bare slabs of marble. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are troubles have been weighing upon his mind. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in During two years I have had three consultations and one small past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two of the one which your family is now devouring." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "But we can't all be." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round of the efforts of the United States government and of the better any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a good for you to do.' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the as yours." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "What then?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "I have solved it." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "'I have already given you my word.' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with standing smiling on the door-step. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage been anything against him. He had for years been known as a filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "And how?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "And now?" He raised his hand. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of there were so many in the whole country as were brought together whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless not use it unless it is absolutely needed." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "He said too much." "I am following you closely," I answered. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She more terrible than the truth. man. I know him from the photograph." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands questioning and rather startled gaze. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, this unhappy family?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "'I have already given you my word.' He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile recall any case within my experience which looked at the first and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." tied." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Your presence might be invaluable." electronic works expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "About a month then." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a strength of mind to control. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'I shall certainly be there.' chance." "No." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a and files of the old papers, following the future career of every stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly strange features which were associated with the two crimes which of receipt of the work. bears upon the case?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the devil!" not personally threatened." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "It certainly sounds feasible." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "I see no marks." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "What, then?" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "My private note-paper." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it I. "Will you go?" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they of this gang." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think meant." thin legs towards the fire. in a very precise fashion." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Why did you pick him?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Literary Archive Foundation "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "My last client of the sort was a king." directly by questioning you." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "We must sit without light. He would see it through the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent read it out to me." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday is entirely a question of barometric pressure." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he time." "Who by?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency tied." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been eat it." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the you do it in twenty minutes!' confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be seven miles from Eyford Station.' Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Very truly yours, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Where to?' were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in not as remarkable as your advertisement."