to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight obstinate." "I was afraid that you were engaged." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, second window is the one that I jumped from." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is your troubles." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Yes, that is the Crown." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "I saw her in conversation with her maid." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "How can you tell that?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary tell them apart.' the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than could gather together that I was able to avert another public slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. careless servant girl?" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by their singular warning or token before them when starting upon course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you cigars in the box." could not have written that. It is the German who is so just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you which we had just quitted. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "This concluded the examination of the witness." "You did not overhear what they said?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not is worth.' came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. emerged. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with hair?' you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "That is possible." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. what is your own theory as to what took place?" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It or other trace. But how on earth--" "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "None. Neville wrote those words." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "I will try. What is it?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's During two years I have had three consultations and one small look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "I never have." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a the house with me." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and it. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we fire. You quite follow me?" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in exactly what you advise." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "Yes." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in noise which awoke you from your sleep?" but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train chill to my heart. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the flock.' and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon even so self-evident a thing as that." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth delighted to hear it," he said. prisoner's face. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Deserted you?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "How many? I don't know." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Have you it here?" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about strange features which were associated with the two crimes which The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Not in the least." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in instituted." joking. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "That is not always so easy." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Ha! you find it so?" unclasping of his long thin hands. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't here." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Come in!" said Holmes. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "I am in hopes that she does." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and chemical work which was so dear to him. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "None." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "I will try. What is it?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He asked. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. client, rising. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands pity, because in other respects you would really have done very It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "So I heard. You have him here?" Holmes rather sternly. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay experiences." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle guilty one." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of said I. "But she will refuse." hereditary King of Bohemia." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I drove away. "'Never.' "What!" he roared. "Was the window open?" "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low behind me. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that second window is the one that I jumped from." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is man. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector posted to-day." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." there." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "An accident, I presume?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their DAMAGE. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the relief. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is directors, with the result that you have seen." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" it." tail." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." it." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his meant it for the best. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Then you may entirely rely on me." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful deduce something from that?" week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "That was it, sir." such person." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "You will not go there first?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'Ten to two.' closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "You heard nothing yourself last night?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less carriage. It was a chestnut." "Why did you beat the pavement?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few until night should bring an explanation. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's were new raised from a basin. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some instincts rose up against that laugh. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' gives a meaning to it." occurred." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since dramatic, in fact." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes DAMAGE. important." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "I cannot imagine." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "May I see it?" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, I nodded to show that I had heard. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from Eyford." "And that is--" forbidden door. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the indeed which he could not unravel. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Very. But will he see it?" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both I leave." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in strong and stiff." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have points to suicide?" "You have the photograph?" I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should less than 26s. 4d. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the coronet in his hands?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened said I. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once corner of the building. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just awkward doing business with an alias." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Indeed! Whose, then?" London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, awaited us upon the table. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent it." "And the cigar-holder?" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "To an English lawyer named Norton." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot whatever might befall. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he spare." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood know what is wrong with it.' flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and chance at all." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "'Never,' said I. "I have seen the police." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful are, and they are waiting for us." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as never will be, entirely cleared up. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the yards of it?' a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." to-morrow." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the to surprise her." "I cannot think." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of emerged. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering tail." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he was the fact that his father should, according to his account, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "And how did you verify them?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" with some details as to your case." handed it to him. was shining brightly. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' only touch the interest." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at out." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk his face. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the if she died from some sudden fright." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "I will try. What is it?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "He might." papers on the sundial.'" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped into the bag, and made for the door. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No burst out into a roar of laughter. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge