"There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "And help." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded father's place of business?" to-night?" I asked. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I place of silver." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit strode off upon his way. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was your only hope of safety." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come his eyes and forehead. humiliation." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Then how many are there?" her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five intimate personal affairs in this public manner." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "'Then let me do so?' Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting Street. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Street. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "A thing like a cleaver," said he. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Breckinridge is his name." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, tell them apart.' seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by may have an influence upon European history." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to troubles have been weighing upon his mind. events, Mr. Windibank!" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin right! Sit down and let us talk it over." place of silver." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but him to go away.' the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "His face fell immediately. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am very morning of my second wedding." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the matter?" have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "What office?" back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "'No, I know no one in these parts.' two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I conversation I have gathered that they have been married about they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. copied or distributed: shall not find me ungrateful." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but hard-headed British jury." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "And now?" He raised his hand. between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over upon a handsome competence. "Dr. Becher's." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, look upon these things in a different way." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every information in his hands the value of which he did not himself despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "I think that I had better go, Holmes." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that anything to do with the matter?" depend upon my doing so.' "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Was he the only applicant?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Henry Baker is a member." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in introspective fashion. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Eyford at 11:15.' While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the stones. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "The Cedars?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each started for the Temple to see my husband. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time are, and they are waiting for us." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "And the murderer?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. little adventures." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in questioning and rather startled gaze. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure chemical work which was so dear to him. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. compunction about shooting them down." help us in this matter." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two from you?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I dates and names. over here." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "You horrify me." "It's nothing of the kind." derbies." get her out of the way." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the had died away into the silence from which it rose. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "I cannot tell." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate cigar and let me expound." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they papers diligently of late, have you not?" "The murder was done with it." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of believe that I should never have any practice at all. morning." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so Sutherland. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp of this gang." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "It is his hat." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. will take you up to see the machine.' "An enemy?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "I am in hopes that she does." tightly behind him. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "'I am sure that I do not know.' her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the charge against him will break down." asked with his eyes open. that large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Witness: It was. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive compunction about shooting them down." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line husband's writing, madam." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you placed his cuttings. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, politicians who had been sent down from the North. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so back alive. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger call the police, let the police find what they can.' building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but call it cruel." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is humiliation." "Certainly." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "That is easily got." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Very. But will he see it?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "How long did she speak to this Alice?" police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view trying to your nerves." "Yes, I have one waiting." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "And how did you verify them?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and once more to my work. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after for and were ordered to this address. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Quite so." these bleak autumnal evenings." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature certainly do as you advise." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "It was an hour's good drive." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate memory. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the national property. I was determined that the law should have its sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently the window, rose as we entered. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." and effective." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight have been better. It is all right." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you newspaper selections." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Project Gutenberg-tm works. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I companion. "Precisely so. But how--" "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical congratulate you again." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You I nodded again. key of the affair now." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the I shall continue with my miserable story. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of were unconscious?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is which I could not give. He asked for Alice. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" occupations.' "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, was already answered. Lee, in the county of Kent." flock.' "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the inquest, and which are worth considering." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do carpenter." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. introspective fashion. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But the little opening for the ventilator is." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "My own seal." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "It is very kind of you." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Perhaps I have." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "And your mother is alive?" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Thank you. And your address?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "No." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE bell. Holmes whistled. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly allusion to a rat. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. carriage. It was a chestnut." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to suddenly upon us." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. room. "No?" on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "A client, then?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of when your master had gone out." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Project Gutenberg-tm works. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming III. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "It is possible." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade good for you to do.' "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which key turn in the lock." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging whether it answered to the description of any of their to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days