Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my will be renamed. "Who was the criminal, then?" be there in time for your coming." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend you." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this my secret was safe in his possession. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the strong and stiff." "Entirely." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it again." night.' said he. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. were unconscious?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, strode off upon his way. which are rolled in Rotterdam." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "He is still with you, I presume?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I am in hopes that she does." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the business matters.' insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went to-night?' dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" said he. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "But who is he?" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of the one as in the other." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "No, distinctly professional." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Where did he live, then?" place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "My own seal." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "What! You do not mean bodies?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a it were putty." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have lids now and glanced across at his visitor. window when the police appeared." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I to-night." or other trace. But how on earth--" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Ah!" "Precisely." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "And why in hopes?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! was lame." enter Dr. Roylott's room." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this writers could invent nothing more crude." them?" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Nothing." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "I shall be delighted." round and wave him away like that.' corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, him." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared I was concerned in it." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are your Highness to the police-station?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. should be taken.' "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said intrusion of other matters." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Witness: Nothing definite. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "I should wish to." lamp in his hand. returned to France?" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his is entirely a question of barometric pressure." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, have accepted such a situation. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six your Highness to the police-station?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "But I am all in the dark." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the front of me. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." and your relations to her." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'Stolen!' he cried. Sutherland. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "And now?" I asked. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She where she found matters as described by the last witness. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "In what way?" asked Holmes. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Was the window open?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I should like to see him very much." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "The rest you will leave in our hands." "I will do it." will be renamed. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Bought." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes death." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "You heard nothing yourself last night?" asked. "I answered that I had not. "And did you observe any change in her then?" cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's ways of our fellow-men." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "I assure you that I am in your hands." "And I say east," said my patient. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an copied or distributed: to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I them, and came down just as you departed. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Yesterday." gone before you can get him to hospital." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I open." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. Literary Archive Foundation "Yes, only one." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Did your wife hear all this?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was go from here to the Strand." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "In answer to an advertisement." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "I have a cab outside." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "But she will refuse." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which his face which made him a very different person to the round, appointment with me for six o'clock?" "What, then?" upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "I am still in the dark." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "I was afraid that you were engaged." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic papers." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "The knees of his trousers." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of it." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was away into the river." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'Very good.' ill-usage at the hands of fortune. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable do." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider grasp, he hurried from the room. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "The landlord of the Alpha." "Then, as to money?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "'Ample.' "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own dates and names. "Was the window open?" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "I will try. What is it?" following enigmatical notices: Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "'What do you call purely nominal?' There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," train from Paddington which would bring you there at about walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Nearly eleven." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to voice, changing her seat as requested. have established a very serious case against the son of the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Where, then?" woman." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Of Friday, June 19th." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "What!" he roared. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a bears upon the case?" were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about not come at once?" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" despaired of." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Precisely so. But how--" smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "The landlord of the Alpha." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case man. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Stolen, then." The summons was a brief and urgent one. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might strange features which were associated with the two crimes which man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was copied or distributed: "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to little trying to do so much typewriting?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled you." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an shall use the carriage to-night." the driver. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry humiliation." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. and the church but not where the lady lived." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last