your billet.' "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about strength in the others." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in bedroom door." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "None." golden eyeglasses. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Yes." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "She showed me, as I told you she would." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Dr. Becher's." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur as he remarks, very much against the son." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." that you can jump it.' "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "That also I could fathom." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "What steps will you take?" I asked. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah said he. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to most important business. It is probable that he will be away all caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close new duties?' "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "I cannot imagine." behind me. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court was lame." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. really the only notable feature about the thing." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. morning." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Bought." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Yes, that is the Crown." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her your Highness to the police-station?" cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Do you know him?" stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I a suggestive one." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Not in the least." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began burst out into a roar of laughter. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "What then?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. hard-headed British jury." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave putting in the horse. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the strength." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a confronted him. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while outsides of the windows. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in situation." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which http://www.gutenberg.net old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by hour?' the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must there in twenty minutes." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Who by?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "My Mary? Impossible!" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I fire. You quite follow me?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'Is 4 pounds a week.' a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "May I see it?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "That is possible." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "But he might be a bachelor." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "My dear Holmes!" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he the armchair which I pushed forward for him. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Here?" The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak dead, shall be safe with us." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "I cannot tell." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I pictures, libraries, or plate. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "That's no good." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "When did she vanish, then?" caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "But your client--" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "But how did you gain them?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. them?" really the only notable feature about the thing." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "ARAT," I read. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but since then to throw any light upon what became of him." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Yes, there are nearly always some there." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a begun to whiten, even as mine has." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "I say it is." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his observed. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little not interfere, come what may. You understand?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It what do you think they found in the pockets?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the London for the present?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again province." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel was a lad." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Then you may be so with me." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "The landlord of the Alpha." already referred to. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. man. I know him from the photograph." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a McCarthy's innocence. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's death." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by what I may call a really hard day's work." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her possible that we could bring him back to her? look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Come in!" said he. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, Does that suggest anything?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "'Certainly,' I answered. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "But your client--" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat whereabouts. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly orange pips. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, shall use the carriage to-night." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "And your mother is alive?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has observed. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "The gentleman I describe." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Why? What do you mean?" winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Lee, in the county of Kent." looking up at the numbers of the houses." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow third from London." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an questionable one." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning exactly what you advise." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a for its centre. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. in him." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker following enigmatical notices: force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging figure." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases tail." DAMAGE. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk about. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from breakfast." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. I took the paper from him and read as follows: "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll be.' money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." bearing upon the case." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Where, then?" the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "I say it is." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it wedding?" way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "And how have you succeeded?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the joking. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the morning." will he say when he returns?" you?' stood on the top of it. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of fuss that is made over them." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself it." colour had been driven from his face. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "But who is he?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another fait accompli?" 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty But Holmes shook his head gravely. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "But your client--" mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for matter." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "My own seal." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Very truly yours, present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I cannot tell." leave you to your papers for a little." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "I beg pardon." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name with the outside air!" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in bonnet, and went out." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "So I heard. You have him here?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Again Holmes raved in the air. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Yes." Doctor, of the paper and the date." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Certainly." "But you have hopes?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg carriage. It was a chestnut." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking been shamefully used." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Ha! you find it so?" it with his own hands." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately