ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their married her." tension within him. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." certainly not very gracious." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is has little to do with my story." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Texas, I think." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Then you may entirely rely on me." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson forecastle of an emigrant ship. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put constraint." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Dr. Gregory B. Newby as yours." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. and capable of preserving a secret.' luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and acted in my house last night?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "'And the work?' "I do." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "So I heard. You have him here?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "But his left-handedness." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural there." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "No, I had a dozen." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "I should like to see him very much." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "'Which dealer's?' to surprise her." goes." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark point our research must commence, and we will begin it by and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty During two years I have had three consultations and one small about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. During two years I have had three consultations and one small note?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Stolen, then." get the tickets." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that asked with his eyes open. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an roused himself from his reverie. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Very well, sir. And this stone?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, was it brought him the coronet? wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his row." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for it." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, purpose of examination. burst out into a roar of laughter. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism and it need not interfere very much with one's other It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "What! Had he lost his wife?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to characteristics, but those are the more obvious." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I least a most suspicious remark." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "'What do you call purely nominal?' whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than points to suicide?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I were wasted." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man the driver. father's young wife. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily together. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "'About the same.' which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Then, how do you know?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. think you a quite exceptional woman." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "None." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "It is to him that this trophy belongs." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his been with you?" outside." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. at once, for I have only half an hour." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had You can understand that this register and diary may implicate look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." felt?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Deserted you?" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "You don't mind breaking the law?" twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old enter Dr. Roylott's room." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "About a month then." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done some terrible trap for her." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his if she died from some sudden fright." more solid." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled to have been novel and of interest." out." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Thank you. Pray proceed." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Why did you pick him?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon man. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "I know where it is." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with had no one to advise her at such a crisis." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you once more. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "And why in hopes?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before so far?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Holmes. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when very morning of my second wedding." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the nursery. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "By all means." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found if I call to-morrow?" vault. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "My dear Holmes!" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was DISSOLVED. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, formed some opinion?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "To an end?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, exactly what you advise." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing disturbance in my wife." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. better grown goose." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Yes." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil point in the dark hollow of his hand. something of him before." "What will you do, then?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps tied." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had written. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "What!" he roared. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my carried out of court." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then nothing of it?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got point our research must commence, and we will begin it by thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "It was." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "What!" he roared. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "And how did you find out?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout until night should bring an explanation. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "You have but to name it." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Watson," he said cordially. my little problems." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the rat could hardly pass through." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of had no one to advise her at such a crisis." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should congratulate you again." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Has he come with you to-night?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "By all means." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to is," said he presently: ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "That is easily got." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding there in twenty minutes." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "May I see it?" him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and whether it answered to the description of any of their things are very often connected not with the larger but with the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It and that he would see to anything that turned up. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which plantation.' into the room. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set individual and becomes the badge of a society." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "It is possible." certainly not very gracious." acquaintance?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You present strange and interesting features that it is no easy aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper neither fascinating nor artistic." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "And what then?" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and it. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "And how did he make his money?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Clair, of Lee." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but acted in my house last night?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." drawing your inferences." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Yes, all." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was