"'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it point our research must commence, and we will begin it by up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I enter Dr. Roylott's room." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "'I am sure if I had known--' "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "By all means." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." what these perils are?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round this Miss Turner." "Nothing?" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. bears upon the case?" "I came to find a friend." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "It is possible." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his know all about it," he snarled. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father to take care of herself." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning me." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Her father is very rich?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "So I heard. You have him here?" "Well." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the system of imprisonment?" and put his glass in his pocket. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "'You cannot say what it was?' observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Yes, only one." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "It is possible." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring now. It seems that there had been some informality about their of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Nothing?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "It came here." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless II. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few the Friday. Was it to be in church?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush me have 200 pounds?' "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: manager. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything colour had been driven from his face. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in vanished into the darkness. business at Coburg Square is serious." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower the very morning of the wedding." will be renamed. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "What office?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Pope's Court. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this his cane at the bell-pull. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the them?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall get the tickets." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "And you thought he was pulled back?" out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of to that open window." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the tied." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "I have my revolver," said I. once more to my work. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table and looked back. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to is four-and-twenty." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "What have you to say now?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "And that is--" "Yes." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your questionable one." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am States. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Will you go?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend may have an influence upon European history." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "It certainly sounds feasible." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "How did he come?" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the dangers which encompass me." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. shoulder; "he's all right." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, him, that man would not have given me such complete information This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for than to us. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? his huge brown hands. "'Ten to two.' filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "And the murderer?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "I fear not." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "There is the writing." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "No." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "He disappeared so suddenly." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And followed. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has what these perils are?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than colonel looking down at me. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's in. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "My stepfather's business papers." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." so.' "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the residence of the great financier. quite distinctive." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Yes." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Never." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any lost nothing by them." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were easy-going way." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the been deceived." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. galvanised. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "You horrify me!" Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'Then let me do so?' chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Here?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that business matters.' idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the look upon these things in a different way." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to I am not easy in my mind about them." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "By train from Waterloo." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "On your arm?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should absorbing." yourselves in at night?" Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the morning and make my own way in the world.' 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "You have compromised yourself seriously." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Your French gold?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be and have this put in the evening papers." fear." The King stared at him in amazement. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Where, then, is my wife?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest here." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, with her." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been seen the man in the road." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring legal crime." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a that you wished to speak to me?' to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the helping a boy to put up the shutters. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. me. meant." "What have you to say now?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "You forget that I know nothing about it." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a depend upon your compliance." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "And how did you find out?" Eyford." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot the stones. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "In San Francisco, a year ago." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "And I." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you note?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently there has been an enclosure here!" "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm tension within him. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and business in the City. She little knew what. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy