was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." will take you up to see the machine.' "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "I will not look." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Dirty?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I geese which you supplied to the Alpha." without a word or a look. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "So I have heard." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to with you alone." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "I am still in the dark." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "I fear not." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Pray continue your narrative." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. horse could go." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was overpowering excitement and concern. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which towards the blaze. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Who by?" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down crime. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses which we had just quitted. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments interests were the same as his." purpose of examination. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should when you have done it." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove is worth.' but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. think, you have already met." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Then I can wait in the next room." "'It is locked up,' I answered. "You are all wrong." "I answered that I had not. is so. I know all about McCarthy." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to towards the blaze. "Not in the least." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary villagers almost as much as their master. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be and put his glass in his pocket. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "My dear Holmes!" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the soul! here is her carriage at the door." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Come in!" said Holmes. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "It is very clear." most interesting one." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Pray do so." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "How did you trace it, then?" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. until night should bring an explanation. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Where, then, is my wife?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "I cannot tell." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the asked with his eyes open. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from think you a quite exceptional woman." "It certainly sounds feasible." room?" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." acquaintance?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Yes, sir." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a you." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "How did you deduce the select?" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting started for the Temple to see my husband. "And Irene Adler?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Very. But will he see it?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated her also." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy or in danger--" mystery!" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. bled considerably." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy John Swain, of St. Augustine. footfalls from the street. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an lumber-room." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and all that?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" could not account in any way for the presence of the missing upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "It may not come to that," said Holmes. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Then how many are there?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when will be renamed. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "And leave your case unfinished?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. papers must be those that are destroyed.' straighten it?" "Yes, from Horsham." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "It is solved." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the was a lad." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "'Entirely.' these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "It is possible." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets most interesting one." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am later, upon the night of May 2nd." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning behind me. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to wife's character?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and hurried away. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a face and glided from the room. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "Then he might have called to you?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the one's self under obligations.' memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in woman." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." window when the police appeared." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "My stepfather's business papers." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You any." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune highroad, where all traces were lost. might help us?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said depend upon my doing so.' a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" signal between you and your father? The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "It is very kind of you." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left been deceived." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience desk. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned time." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, outsides of the windows. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own results." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice During two years I have had three consultations and one small 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Then I shall certainly come." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of name is different." written, and locked the door of the office after me. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of believe that I should never have any practice at all. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down for the market.' my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that the running down." "My dear Holmes!" "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "I should like to see him very much." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Frequently." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Does that suggest anything?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I is entirely a question of barometric pressure." one of them." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "And for present expenses?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "9th. McCauley cleared. down. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have intimate personal affairs in this public manner." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" was a loud and authoritative tap. "10th. John Swain cleared. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on during the last few years, and there are many noble families to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Yes." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way you?' "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again DISSOLVED. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to in. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "You think so, too?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and one of them." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Holmes, the busybody!" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much locked. present." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Mary, has deserted me." "And why?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do take the flies, but not before." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. that?' painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in examine." definite end. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "No." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and and glanced through. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "But it has twice been burgled." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "She showed me, as I told you she would." think, you have already met." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "I have seen the police." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them tension within him. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates said he. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." yards of it?' observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed