events, Mr. Windibank!" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. clang of the bell. it." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two Henry Baker is a member." "Yes, that is the Crown." and all of them with the keenest interest. desk. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "9th. McCauley cleared. "Where, then, is my wife?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Your sister is dead, then?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Of what?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" silent! Oh, he will be silent!' a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, take the flies, but not before." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King His name is Francis Prosper." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! nonsense.' "I never have." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "At what time?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all during the last few years, and there are many noble families to stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any leaning back in his chair. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, back alive. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is characteristics, but those are the more obvious." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered likely to be some crony of the landlady's." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not have established a very serious case against the son of the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and spark where all is dark to me." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, system of imprisonment?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he I am not easy in my mind about them." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and little adventures." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "One?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much photograph a cabinet?" I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the You want to know what became of those geese?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, most important business. It is probable that he will be away all such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "He slept on the premises." row." fashion which was peculiar to him. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no prepare for the new role I have to play." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "I think it very unlikely." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while and a shock of very red hair. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "You are certainly joking, Holmes." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Where is it, then?" occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Then, how do you know?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face the inquest, and which are worth considering." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Serpentine Avenue. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, went to the Alpha were town bred." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards foot. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Will you go?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "So I have heard." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "My dear Holmes!" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I which should have the effect of calling the attention of the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before eat it." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without advice." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud fluttered off among the others. "'What, the red-headed man?' a little more before I quite committed myself. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's furiously. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Nearly eleven." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have anything to do with the matter?" until night should bring an explanation. "You are hungry," I remarked. way: it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very obstinate." "But how?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the never will be, entirely cleared up. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do chambers. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to now. It seems that there had been some informality about their classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the in a very precise fashion." three of the beryls in it, was missing. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But wedding?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Perhaps we may make them less so." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I rooms." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who question you as to those details which seem to me to be most that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' tightly behind him. "What then?" everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen them?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. yet." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Now, then, what's the last entry?" confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be intrusion of other matters." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "You saw the ventilator, too?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began of Fenchurch Street." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done mysterious end." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Then he might have called to you?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." such attractions and accomplishments?' believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea pictures, libraries, or plate. had this final quarrel? colonel looking down at me. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat which our visitor detailed to us. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The papers must be those that are destroyed.' points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Pope's Court. man. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Certainly." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "By no means." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "No, I think that I'll take it." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself me, and I could not think that his explanation of the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client heavily into it. strength of mind to control. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his lost nothing by them." one else, I think." "Very murderous indeed." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at hereditary King of Bohemia." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have Sutherland. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am events, Mr. Windibank!" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger desk. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the King without delay." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own vanished into the darkness. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Mary, has deserted me." Serpentine Avenue. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about and it need not interfere very much with one's other "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is 'please.'" waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here I shall communicate with you." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was future lives." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main individual and becomes the badge of a society." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "So I have heard." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in views." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. several quiet little villages up there." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about tell him that I know him to be innocent." you." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a against a man in the prime of life?" his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend there!' "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite in my life." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their allusion to a rat. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for hurried by. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had one or two very singular points about this room. For example, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been if she died from some sudden fright." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Why did you beat the pavement?" looking up at the numbers of the houses." he died? again, where I was soon asleep. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "'You doubt its value?' he asked. affair. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. may never be exposed to such a temptation." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "'What do you call purely nominal?' there was no need for father to know." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur deduce something from that?" "And why in hopes?" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Where to?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "And Irene Adler?" "My own seal." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this himself to hunt down. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "A thing like a cleaver," said he. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Yes, there are nearly always some there." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his I have it here in my museum." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Then he might have called to you?" into the room. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that conclusions. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "At the wedding breakfast." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your