"It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot your bag." woven round him. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age joking. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his to Leatherhead. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "But how did you gain them?" on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "You'll never persuade me to believe that." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Then he might have called to you?" arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. hour?' "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. shall use the carriage to-night." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Nothing." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's respectable self." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not know that the truth is known." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Yes, at the mines." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Never." constraint." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind long narrative. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of green of the new foliage. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. dead, shall be safe with us." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "I was mad--insane." Street. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become writer." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Stoke Moran." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was peculiar to him. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Did you observe the colour?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you up this clue while it is still hot." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "No bad?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." at my remark. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." secret." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." shall not find me ungrateful." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "You have it, sir, just as it happened." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a married her." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Mary, has deserted me." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing paper in the air. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the me have 200 pounds?' copied or distributed: which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the are windows in it, of course?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of advice." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, peculiar to him. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down heavily into it. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Leadenhall Street--and--" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "There is the writing." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It you in your example." "We were both in the photograph." "She will not sell." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Dark enough and sinister enough." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a when your master had gone out." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of just ask you whether you had heard it.' the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as there were one or two details which were new to me. But the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a little trying to do so much typewriting?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "So I heard. You have him here?" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "And leave your case unfinished?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Surrey." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Why did you pick him?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a character. records." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his to some other building. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "That is possible." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so who was a member of your goose club." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she page at http://pglaf.org papers must be those that are destroyed.' however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless The King stared at him in amazement. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated companion. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and My friend smiled. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been individual and becomes the badge of a society." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell was used.' as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "But how did you gain them?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "By all means." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "'Never,' said I. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of behind me. then?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the cause to be." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as troubles have been weighing upon his mind. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "'Entirely.' with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project without a word or a look. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' pity, because in other respects you would really have done very pound a week." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business three fields round his house, and there he would take his What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Come in!" said he. "I am to be neutral?" appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Witness: Nothing definite. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. recover the gem." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "By no means." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should interest. They are important, you understand, without being so far?" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both said he. neither fascinating nor artistic." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," status with the IRS. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Mrs. Toller serenely. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my him. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Heh?' be.' province." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any upon a handsome competence. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "So I heard. You have him here?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "But who is he?" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit kindly on the shoulder. like that before?" full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of down. have been better. It is all right." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during whether it answered to the description of any of their "It is possible." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Quite so." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the forebodings. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the I shall continue with my miserable story. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my past. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded which was all perfectly true. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Yes." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a the room while you explain this matter?" upon the shelf for the interim." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "'Certainly not.' "Certainly, madam." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. do you make of it all?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "My dear Holmes!" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and subject to the trademark license, especially commercial reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "But you can know nothing of this?" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my and your relations to her." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were behind me. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources had a long day." "In San Francisco, a year ago." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Pray continue your narrative." lectures into a series of tales." "I say it is." you give your casting vote to?" was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Certainly." it." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy he. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Then, as to money?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I which we had just quitted. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "A call for help, you thought?" country, and eventually married, without anyone having a receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Seven!" I answered. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the into the room. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Project Gutenberg-tm works. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. present." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off the coronet at all injured?" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Certainly, madam." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his instincts rose up against that laugh. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey matters immensely." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted least a fellow-countryman. wanted for ourselves." "Indeed! Whose, then?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face at my own good fortune. done what I asked you, Jones?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and shadow pass over his face as I spoke. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" too. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of newspaper selections." at my own good fortune. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Yes, from Horsham." "Nothing?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "How did you deduce the select?" it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing