"Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, narrative." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Certainly." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts fait accompli?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in new duties?' even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, sneer upon his pale face. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." up this clue while it is still hot." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the through." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who case-book, which he consulted. crowd. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and presented which may be striking and bizarre without being fire. You quite follow me?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "You have but to name it." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he sake, don't!" the one as in the other." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "And help." bled considerably." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the was shining brightly. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "What will you say?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting McCarthy's innocence. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Yes." that there was nothing in it, after all." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he what these perils are?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their the loss of it. "And now?" I asked. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of envelope. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I wall." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately chemical work which was so dear to him. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the a little more before I quite committed myself. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. stammered. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, wedding?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or you." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money detained." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if dead, shall be safe with us." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" bearing upon the case." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "How are you getting on?" interested in these little problems, and since you are good look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the gentleman's clothes. eavesdroppers?' I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Oh, fresh and glossy." mysterious end." bonnet, and went out." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Did he not advertise?" the devil!" examination of the premises, but without finding anything which tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "BALLARAT." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "So I am. Very much so." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I in my life." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project noting anything else of interest. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "That you are never beaten." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband quite distinctive." for the market.' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered investigation." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two know what is wrong with it.' left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. rat could hardly pass through." carried out of court." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. green of the new foliage. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Did you observe the colour?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers Mary, has deserted me." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed straightened it out again. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling not within a twentieth part of the market price." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as to Leatherhead. corner of the building. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang test if we have an answer to our advertisement." works. See paragraph 1.E below. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak visitors." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Then the page we have seen--" "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "To an English lawyer named Norton." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my was a perfect sample of the class. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he do you make of it all?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "I never have." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, fear." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly the Friday. Was it to be in church?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. your troubles." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped hurried away. never will be, entirely cleared up. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" it were putty." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "I cannot think." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the stable lane now." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had which should have the effect of calling the attention of the my room." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "And how did you verify them?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an noise which awoke you from your sleep?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for pound a week." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise prison!" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Oh, the cause is excellent!" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. companion. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "None." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a here." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the little opening for the ventilator is." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & over his head with a sweet womanly caress. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the bed, and you in that chair." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture weighed down with some great anxiety. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the of your young ladies.' 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Dirty?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" think, you have already met." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the certainly do as you advise." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "I never have." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem good for you to do.' round with crates and massive boxes. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Yes, that is the Crown." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important out." "'What then?' I asked. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold heavy and sharp instrument." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "What, then?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the indeed which he could not unravel. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Did you become engaged then?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "How do you know, then?" "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay father's young wife. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "No." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" and looked back. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with fuss that is made over them." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Edgeware Road. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Holmes. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "No." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more His smile broadened. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "My dear Holmes!" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what begun to whiten, even as mine has." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding this unhappy family?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "You'll never persuade me to believe that." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the thin legs towards the fire. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his how narrow had been my escape. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or this remarkable episode. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "What office?" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two ways of our fellow-men." "Dirty?" be best to do. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "What, then, did Peterson do?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the tension within him. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have had picked up in the wood. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Of what?" he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." felt?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend silent! Oh, he will be silent!' possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But what do you think they found in the pockets?" my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, just called myself is not exactly my own." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Serpentine Avenue. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may indeed happy." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the look dissatisfied." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the the coroner come to?" hour." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Was the window open?" "'How far from the body?' the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." matter." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the learned something! Where are the gems?" glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Where, then?" bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my at a side door.