"Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give directors, with the result that you have seen." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the and the church but not where the lady lived." "10th. John Swain cleared. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I forebodings. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Whose house is it?" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." note?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "And that is--" meanly of me." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "How did he come?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very friend's singular character. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it works. See paragraph 1.E below. the King without delay." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Nothing." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "'Certainly not.' opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "By no means." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more you understand?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the hair?' paper in the air. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have nonsense.' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much prison!" it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "And how did you verify them?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If infinite languor in his face. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "The vanishing of the lady." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "Why, what do you mean?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. wanted for ourselves." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He closely." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "He might." about. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of seen the man in the road." carpenter." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Certainly." morning." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "That is it on the dressing-table." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This it. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies unkempt, staring out at me. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a information in his hands the value of which he did not himself are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and photograph a cabinet?" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'Quite sure, dad.' success. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable your equipment. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," fuss that is made over them." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it things are very often connected not with the larger but with the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, that you wished to speak to me?' the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "But your client--" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "What office?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" Stoke Moran." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Yes, at the mines." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small of this gang." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in said I. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had pound a week." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "It certainly sounds feasible." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round some city in a dream. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Quite so. She has her freedom." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Very much so." "You are all wrong." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily all-comprehensive glances. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading case-book, which he consulted. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She you came in." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of of Mr. Rucastle's." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "But who is he?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us the armchair which I pushed forward for him. been with you?" open." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, you came in." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Not social, then?" the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." note?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "The murder was done with it." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, which are rolled in Rotterdam." "I am to be neutral?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried been anything against him. He had for years been known as a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now so far?" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." acquaintance?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "And now?" He raised his hand. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Count Von Kramm." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so make me his representative both with the servants and with the the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly be. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We we went to search for him, face downward in a little north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Precisely." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much thought that she would have been so carried away." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right to a more successful conclusion." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's not personally threatened." this poor creature." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's congratulate you again." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, his knees, staring into the fire. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." to a more successful conclusion." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy lamp. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. little adventures." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! means taking possession of that which another person has a prior You can understand that this register and diary may implicate a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. himself. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. rooms." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." fattened it expressly for you.' the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, this poor creature." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the stable lane now." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you it." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Stoke Moran." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Surrey." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. with the outside air!" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of matter." wall." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. eat it." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, already been minutely examined." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, not, dad?" she asked. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while habit of advancing money.' them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I unkempt, staring out at me. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his forecastle of an emigrant ship. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' that?' is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which tell him that I know him to be innocent." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, there is a decided draught." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Well, but China?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "I will not look." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall character. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered something of him before." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. six. Come in!" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is your sleep?' he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where