window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'Yes, it was gone.' crowd. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save forbidden door. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Then I can wait in the next room." "But you can know nothing of this?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else which was all perfectly true. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Yes." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Yes, at the mines." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Which are?" lips." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "This photograph!" union?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "But what harm can there be in that?" Stoke Moran." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. you, my dear young lady?' "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "It is half-past ten now." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them over part of the map. "What do you read?" business." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, strength in the others." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of you do it in twenty minutes!' presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right quick march!" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "I will, Miss Turner." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Were they all fastened this morning?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Only as much as we can deduce." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of written. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but kind enough to tell me what I should do." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." is now desirous of getting those letters back." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "I answered that I had not. "I cannot imagine." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "But his lameness?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we to a more successful conclusion." him. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the know what is wrong with it.' dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand train from Paddington which would bring you there at about nonsense.' "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway any little problem which you may submit to me." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "And leave your case unfinished?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had upon the shelf for the interim." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to this unhappy family?" vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the conclusions. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was help us in this matter." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like me. You must get home instantly and act." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "'Which dealer's?' bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "It goes to the housekeeper's room." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." depend upon my doing so.' the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised together. "Very. But will he see it?" writing, and yet I know it well." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I say it is." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Yes, sir." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Oh, yes, easily." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out be there in time for your coming." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her The police have openly confessed that they can at present make someone who had been in Australia." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Henry Baker is a member." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this it." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck said he at last. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Of Friday, June 19th." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is of." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' get her out of the way." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "That was it, sir." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "To ruin me." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the the stones. be. habit of advancing money.' "The landlord of the Alpha." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All interest. They are important, you understand, without being believe that I should never have any practice at all. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Were they all fastened this morning?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and of this gang." you." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. developed." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This but preventing her from injuring another. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and children over to America with him, so that I found myself without He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Game for a morning drive?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Perhaps we may make them less so." the coronet at all injured?" Edgeware Road. fact, we may call it conclusive." strode off upon his way. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the me what he had done with the three missing stones. the coronet at all injured?" a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I business." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "What I expected to see." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went address. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "I came to find a friend." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Then I shall certainly come." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. nothing with him." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the writers could invent nothing more crude." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "What! a murderous attack?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and business at Coburg Square is serious." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, I. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the coronet in his hand?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to trying to your nerves." Holmes." "No." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the was not a bird to be seen there. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small vanished into the darkness. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Thank you. Pray proceed." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "But he might be a bachelor." go back?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "It may not come to that," said Holmes. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "VIOLET HUNTER." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question strength of mind to control. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were stood on the top of it. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "I guessed as much." do you make of it all?" look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was outside. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect grasp, he hurried from the room. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was This is what he says: another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to examination of the premises, but without finding anything which letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should individual and becomes the badge of a society." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow it. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when extraordinary contortions. London for the present?" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Why serious?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was little trying to do so much typewriting?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the writers could invent nothing more crude." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of sooner or later she must fall a victim. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they was once confined in the cab my mission was practically news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We directly by questioning you." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest made him keep the appointment." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and said he. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Have you her photograph?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to wedding?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months fish-monger and a tide-waiter." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Absolutely none." young Openshaw's." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" nothing of it?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will The events in question occurred in the early days of my "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a woman." depend upon your compliance." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "I am about to be married." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane,