SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any few hundred pounds.' order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. I have it here in my museum." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." that you can jump it.' that before taking the final step I should like to submit the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was said Mr. Holder. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." best detective that ever lived. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have my former friend and companion. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a fuss that is made over them." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece disturbance in my wife." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "And I." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Then what has happened to him?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "'And the work?' back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her fled together." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was of Fenchurch Street." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain gone. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts in the dead of the night?' "I will, Miss Turner." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "He is dead," cried several voices. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution disappearance of the bride.'" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from unkempt, staring out at me. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Yes, I have one waiting." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, points to suicide?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Yes." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a to tell." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both looking up at the numbers of the houses." following enigmatical notices: deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. standing smiling on the door-step. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "And what did you see?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his newspaper selections." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting was already answered. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since happened." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was which was all perfectly true. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "I think that it is very probable." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "And that is--" fluttered off among the others. Edgeware Road. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. gone before you can get him to hospital." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the so far?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "To an English lawyer named Norton." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms is a common subject for conversation. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." the child." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Ah, but I was recommended to you." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us intrusion of other matters." "But he might be a bachelor." trying to your nerves." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a strode off upon his way. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "How are you getting on?" the coronet at all injured?" already referred to. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "'In my own bureau.' to have been novel and of interest." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "And what did you learn from him?" province." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two his knees, staring into the fire. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the to tell." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Why, it's a dummy," said he. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, His name is Francis Prosper." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "No, I am descending." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "10th. John Swain cleared. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "In heaven's name, what for?" the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite you." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at papers." fire. You quite follow me?" horse could go." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was ordinary clothes on?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of spare." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking me upon any point which I do not make clear." felt?" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his sufficient punishment." death." generous with you in money matters.' company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "It's nothing of the kind." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE Eyford at 11:15.' "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." to take care of herself." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. before the coroner and the police-court." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." was it brought him the coronet? on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from forehead. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of stood on the top of it. something of him before." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a to-night?" I asked. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a call for protection in the marriage market, for the present nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the mysterious business." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the coronet in his hand?" least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook where she found matters as described by the last witness. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were opened the door, and slipped through. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "From his hat?" then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I him to be an active member of the medical profession." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." observed. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here door?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very you do it in twenty minutes!' as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful and I shall be with you presently." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "But she will refuse." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "It surprised me." main points of my analysis." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and think that he is innocent?" "None." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads leave you to your papers for a little." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing gbnewby@pglaf.org "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are himself to hunt down. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day happened." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the confronted him. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. least a fellow-countryman. you came in." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is indeed which he could not unravel. are, I think, all that we need." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the standing smiling on the door-step. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have away in different directions, and I went off to make my own was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was bare slabs of marble. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Why did you beat the pavement?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A peculiar to him. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." shaken than I had ever seen him. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "What shall I do?" open." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The go back?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a there was no need for father to know." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm disturbance in my wife." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." bill, which interests me deeply." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came case-book, which he consulted. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them tapping his fingers upon the table. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up over here." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "It is possible." lumber-room." pictures, libraries, or plate. chance at all." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, third from London." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "My stepfather's business papers." problems help me to do so." six. Come in!" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Ha! you find it so?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic see a sister of mine apply for." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "How are you getting on?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are politicians who had been sent down from the North. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Entirely." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "We were both in the photograph." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "But of what society?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City.