"No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose and glanced through. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not that?' lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between sake, don't!" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold fish-monger and a tide-waiter." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Won't it ring?" "You are hungry," I remarked. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of affair. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the the inner apartment." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. pierced for earrings?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his within hail.' particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Your French gold?" "Certainly." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should nice household for a young lady." case-book, which he consulted. me. You must get home instantly and act." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "I was sure that I might rely on you." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, me where it went to?" "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official despaired of." four million human beings all jostling each other within the said Mr. Holder. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had be best to do. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "May I see it?" "None." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a wanted for ourselves." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' and the church but not where the lady lived." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "And how in the world did you find them?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money money should be paid at once.' the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil criminal. We have already had experience of such." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias guilty one." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several did not hear it also.' after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could closing the door. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Certainly, madam." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the pictures, libraries, or plate. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and discontent upon his features. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not it." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Then he might have called to you?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. speckled band?" Holmes." "'What then?' I asked. habit of advancing money.' power." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either your sleep?' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "And now?" He raised his hand. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock visitors." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his good for you to do.' higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the straightened it out again. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the best of training." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "You have but to name it." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "But she could not love him." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only strength of mind to control. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time be.' neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question this remarkable episode. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "His face fell immediately. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other interest. They are important, you understand, without being the driver. morning." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. very morning of my second wedding." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to foresight and the moral retrogression?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and within hail.' property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Where does the thing come from?' events than those which have happened in my own family." "What do you mean?" "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." chance." obstinate." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'Is purely nominal.' electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "What then?" while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The him and tried to hold him back. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "'What then?' I asked. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have taking in every detail of the apartment. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Certainly, madam." "Precisely." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "That sounds a little paradoxical." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Will you bet, then?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for said I. "I assure you that I am in your hands." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his jewels which you have stolen?' "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears intimate personal affairs in this public manner." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and leaning back in his chair. wedding?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't footfalls from the street. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Then you may entirely rely on me." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was him. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and coat-tails." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." wanted for ourselves." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and seem to you to be relevant or not." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern as he folded up the epistle. weary and pale-looking. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "That is not always so easy." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, next day. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I fait accompli?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any companion imperturbably. he. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my to-night's adventure." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "If so, much may have happened between." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the him, that man would not have given me such complete information "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was note?" that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "Certainly." you understand?" have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. morning." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "But not more so than I to find you." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "But she will refuse." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing now. It seems that there had been some informality about their heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known McCarthy." "How many? I don't know." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Yes." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would to-night." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over silent! Oh, he will be silent!' be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong situation." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he such attractions and accomplishments?' before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Ample." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the business matters.' fattened it expressly for you.' better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of From what you have told me I think that it is possible that which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was fuss that is made over them." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "I fear not." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Do you go out much in society?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by maiden herself was most instructive." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "The gentleman I describe." your billet.' happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "His face fell immediately. McCarthy." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." you do it in twenty minutes!' "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke examination of the premises, but without finding anything which is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "It is half-past ten now." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "What shall I do?" assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have For additional contact information: "Ample." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "A confidential servant?" in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" introspective fashion. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "How did you deduce the select?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her very morning of my second wedding." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great it means?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." tell me that you intended to go into harness." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father once more. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens walking." "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you her also." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "My opinion is in no way altered." union?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and triumphant cloud from his cigarette. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Henry Baker is a member." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a on in his house." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?'