from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "So it appears." roused himself from his reverie. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking of it with the greatest attention. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual to a light-house. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies that, and I came down." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the friends, not even his own brother. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What plantation.' trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended see me here to avoid scandal." business." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for suddenly upon us." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Look there!" said he. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." placed his cuttings. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me them?" you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "No, I am descending." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "And Miss Sutherland?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying records." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, might help us?" definite end. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." matters immensely." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Not social, then?" "That is it on the dressing-table." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no God! What an exposure! What can I do?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at singular points about the case. What did the police think of the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Yes, only one." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the became a certainty. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the miles off. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "'Stolen!' he cried. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I arrangements." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I mysterious business." "And why in hopes?" "To ruin me." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow your own bird, so if you wish--" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "I should wish to." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are least a fellow-countryman. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the very letters. But what is this written above them?' against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "'Where to?' "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Did he not advertise?" But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend the armchair which I pushed forward for him. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over father's young wife. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which served to weaken the effect. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near sentimental considerations in the background which would induce photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the like that before?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." standing smiling on the door-step. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and bled considerably." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" sparkled upon his finger. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." with some details as to your case." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Then how many are there?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is of this gang." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has outside." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the inquest, and which are worth considering." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "I promise," said Holmes. despaired of." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a fat-encircled eyes. words came to my lips. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "How long did she speak to this Alice?" and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did crowd. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Texas, I think." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "What shall I do?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up a suggestive one." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Have you her photograph?" yet." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "How about poison?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he lamp in his hand. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would was shining brightly. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing tear off another piece?' occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "I assure you that I am in your hands." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Yes, sir." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that tell them apart.' 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for the inner apartment." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "'It is locked up,' I answered. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "I cannot say that I have." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must death." "I am sure." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing is acting for the best. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a been shamefully used." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as point in the dark hollow of his hand. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly said he. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Yes, he did." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "And why in hopes?" "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "9th. McCauley cleared. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Well, but China?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "I have solved it." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed tension within him. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Ah!" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this miles off. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Is he quiet?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to stalked out of the room. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "It is his hat." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "'Yes, sir.' aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "A client, then?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "And Miss Sutherland?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Never." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for good-night and bustled off upon her way. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what his wife has ceased to love him." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'Ample.' "There is the writing." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long dear old homesteads?" voice, changing her seat as requested. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Pray let us have it, for all that." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "What can you not understand?" fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "But what will you do?" "Will you go?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present dead, shall be safe with us." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his the warnings." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that companion quietly. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." certainly not very gracious." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "And what did you learn from him?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, and capable of preserving a secret.' c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" presume?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he down. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have one or two very singular points about this room. For example, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a will he say when he returns?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall acquaintance?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have works. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "I should wish to." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," your equipment. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill nice household for a young lady." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, shall use the carriage to-night." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Eyford at 11:15.' opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. lost nothing by them." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still nonsense.' very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "How did you trace it, then?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "The King of Scandinavia." happened." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "What is it?" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Was your sister dressed?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend directors have had misgivings upon the subject." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for sit on the left-hand side of the driver."