was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock you want, then?' "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that in darkness. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the despaired of." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "But the mystery?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Then I do not see the point." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, to tell." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but than to us. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain I took the paper from him and read as follows: train.' the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the very letters. But what is this written above them?' seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that and laid it on the table. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "But to whom?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all questionable one." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the off." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it What do you deduce from it?" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to hand, madam?" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it written. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your happened." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my strong and stiff." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' said he at last. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a look upon these things in a different way." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a open." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" which are rolled in Rotterdam." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Yes, but only for you and me." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, man. I know him from the photograph." with her." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "May I see it?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Has he come with you to-night?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "You have but to name it." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "No." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "And sit in the dark?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I to me. "The King of Scandinavia." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls quite distinctive." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all few hundred pounds.' "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. not, dad?" she asked. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about the stones. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this clanging. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a himself to hunt down. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND to-night." "I see many objections to any such theory." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'Never,' said I. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and bearing upon the case." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "It surprised me." entirely lost his self-respect." of them has the shutters up.' empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "But you can know nothing of this?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "We must have a cab." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your was a loud and authoritative tap. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "No, I am descending." breakfast." had this final quarrel? "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either humiliation." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "But his left-handedness." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "It is very kind of you." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. lectures into a series of tales." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black returning from some small jollification and was making his way What do you deduce from it?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' figure." companion. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." main points of my analysis." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Then what has happened to him?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "What?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a said he. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Yes, he did." do.' any." "By train from Waterloo." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any my room." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Pray continue your narrative." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" young Openshaw's." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I will do it." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "A confidential servant?" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George see a sister of mine apply for." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey had a long day." annoyance, but no jest. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the towards the blaze. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the careless servant girl?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got thirty. crime." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. laugh and put his lips to my ear. once more. "You were travelling in the States?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "No, thank goodness, she did not." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Did you become engaged then?" "No?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "And you can do nothing until then?" get the tickets." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as green of the new foliage. "How are you getting on?" "Do you receive much company?" he asked. them present such singular features as the strange train of wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my been." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight respectable self." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said His name is Francis Prosper." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "At half-wages, in fact." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Absolutely none." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Pope's Court. "Why did you pick him?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "You think that he is dead?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been conclusions. to a more successful conclusion." sufficient punishment." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you placed his cuttings. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "I shall be delighted." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been it." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "She showed me, as I told you she would." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what presume?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no that who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Holmes." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Nothing?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." said I. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "It is very kind of you." man. I know him from the photograph." which it had come upon my father." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "'Ample.' inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "You know me, then?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend we went to search for him, face downward in a little "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from may have an influence upon European history." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil Eyford." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "'I have already given you my word.' peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every him, that man would not have given me such complete information comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "How about poison?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was again, where I was soon asleep. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up goes." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "And why?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Won't it ring?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try and inquire as to the address." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "It is possible." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed future lives." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically searched, without anything being found which could incriminate attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "9th. McCauley cleared. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn room. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and said he. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, gbnewby@pglaf.org you want, then?' frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "No." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood The summons was a brief and urgent one. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said families. Now for the facts. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle this poor creature." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying