on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Never to return." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too desk. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a six. Come in!" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Holmes." "Very truly yours, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about past. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here narrative." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "The Coroner: What do you mean? "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "'Ten to two.' "Precisely so. But how--" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "No?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Did you become engaged then?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "No bad?" adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "That is it on the dressing-table." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." the coronet in his hand?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "You have carte blanche." lips." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of against a man in the prime of life?" "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too this as likely?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Count Von Kramm." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary bird of prey. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the which our visitor detailed to us. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied morning." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "I am to be neutral?" me. You must get home instantly and act." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Why did you beat the pavement?" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic should be taken.' "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really amused." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "You heard nothing yourself last night?" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "No." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "That is also quite modern," said the lady. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of could gather together that I was able to avert another public own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "You have a clue?" lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was prison!" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. public press." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "You did not overhear what they said?" you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in beg that you will break it off." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it kindly on the shoulder. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "No more words. Get out!" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "And Irene Adler?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the devil!" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss was a perfect sample of the class. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Holmes, the busybody!" Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" and laid it on the table. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted straighten it?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will long narrative. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof recall any case within my experience which looked at the first went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Then the page we have seen--" "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Certainly, madam." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" tied." with you alone." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a friend's singular character. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I comes from the middle window." colonel looking down at me. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "They are typewritten," I remarked. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a colonel looking down at me. "I will try. What is it?" but preventing her from injuring another. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then so.' always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "About a month then." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers me where it went to?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. tell them apart.' and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in woman who has had her own way to make in the world. outsides of the windows. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "'Certainly not.' Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable off." himself in a perplexing position. seem to you to be relevant or not." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "In heaven's name, what for?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "The rest you will leave in our hands." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and vault. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of entirely devoid of interest." "Is he quiet?" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, entirely lost his self-respect." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." other, as fresh and trim as possible. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "I think it very unlikely." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for that, and I came down." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "A call for help, you thought?" "Here?" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Yes." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "'A dozen yards or so.' means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of tell them apart.' and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the dangers which encompass me." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Look there!" said he. "So I heard. You have him here?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you it. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing be. "I cannot imagine." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about and the colonel ushered me in. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. as he folded up the epistle. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival she slowly sank and died without having recovered her something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a upon the white wrist. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "What!" he roared. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I of receipt of the work. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' him." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual someone who had been in Australia." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face hour?' rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly writers could invent nothing more crude." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. were wasted." excitement. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other which we had just quitted. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." indiscretion." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his very peculiar words of the dying woman?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no before, for it was considerably after midnight. "I have hopes." that you wished to speak to me?' "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "One horse?" interjected Holmes. was a lad." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he characteristics, but those are the more obvious." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "You were travelling in the States?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until outside. that you can jump it.' other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if success. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" you." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than retorted upon me, and I on you." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Holmes' face clouded over. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Look there!" said he. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Well?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may seven miles from Eyford Station.' caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which at once, for I have only half an hour." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "None." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all row." "He said that you could solve anything." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless your sleep?' and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, open." was lame." followed. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." that he has suffered." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "What, then?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Come in!" said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Where, then, is my wife?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that know that the truth is known." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting papers on the sundial.'" were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have gone. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of any." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "I shall be delighted." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here burst out into a roar of laughter. fuss that is made over them." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here dead, shall be safe with us." important." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be said I. upon a handsome competence. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than do.' it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Always." papers must be those that are destroyed.' Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Eyford at 11:15.' merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "You don't mind breaking the law?"