the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and tied." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening But Holmes shook his head gravely. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what himself in a perplexing position. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a empty. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." particular state visit http://pglaf.org father's place of business?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" Holmes' face clouded over. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those http://www.gutenberg.net purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." weighed down with some great anxiety. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a in the dead of the night?' following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "How are you getting on?" again before evening." and it need not interfere very much with one's other Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue which was all perfectly true. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, entirely lost his self-respect." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "But what harm can there be in that?" Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from case-book, which he consulted. "'Yes, it was gone.' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "You are all wrong." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly she to prove their authenticity?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into what is your own theory as to what took place?" whole matter to your consideration." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "'Is purely nominal.' prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "A call for help, you thought?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "It is solved." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand about here speaks of his kindness to him." started for the Temple to see my husband. "Indeed! Whose, then?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "He said that you could solve anything." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes made his money." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what it with his own hands." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent his wife has ceased to love him." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! even of instruction." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Nearly eleven." way in." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Yes, only one." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John conceal it?" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, never came back." his cane at the bell-pull. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my fasten all the windows?" lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, if I call to-morrow?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet attention." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some to miss it." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may and the whole place is in a blaze." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he excitement. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. I. The events in question occurred in the early days of my "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He and capable of preserving a secret.' answer." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Where, then, is my wife?" "No, finished." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "The Cedars?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him arrangements." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as carriage. It was a chestnut." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "You did not overhear what they said?" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Yes." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases was it brought him the coronet? several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "'What then?' I asked. "Bought." business?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. prisoner's face. pictures, libraries, or plate. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. his knees, staring into the fire. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Pope's Court. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Young McCarthy must be got off, however." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp get the tickets." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Holmes' thin, eager face. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's occupations.' breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light quick march!" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" people in all walks of life. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a it were putty." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "That is it on the dressing-table." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "That also I could fathom." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger the so-precious time, but come!' eavesdroppers?' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you had formerly been in part my own. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my and files of the old papers, following the future career of every unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the mysterious business." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Murdered?" it means?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "And how have you succeeded?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "How can you tell that?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" placed his cuttings. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not The King stared at him in amazement. murdered man." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, chance." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, invisible to me," I remarked. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to posted to-day." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who your own bird, so if you wish--" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Clair, of Lee." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Have you it here?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Well." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I written. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Why, it's a dummy," said he. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some it with his own hands." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "ARAT," I read. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "How are you getting on?" "Was he the only applicant?" "And the cigar-holder?" acquaintance?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Quite so. She has her freedom." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who row." and all of them with the keenest interest. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." crowd. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this some place of shelter and let the county police know what has the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her suspect him." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little compunction about shooting them down." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not you." "Yes, the wine-cellar." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. that he will be back before evening." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "The King of Scandinavia." cost them two and thirty pounds." is worth.' wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "But your client--" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly business at Coburg Square is serious." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "And that is--" dear old homesteads?" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "What office?" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Two days later this same performance was gone through under frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said me, and I could not think that his explanation of the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready plantation.' stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H habit of advancing money.' guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes open." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "There is the writing." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the thirty. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just my secret was safe in his possession. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Murdered?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at are, I think, all that we need." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of foresight and the moral retrogression?" us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not existence." "How about poison?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and fact, we may call it conclusive." "That was it, sir." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue depend upon my doing so.' was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day your troubles." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. as this. Pray let me have the details." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." forbidden door. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against