"You are all wrong." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask placed his cuttings. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain sofa. This way, please!" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time my special province." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Sutherland. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "But you can know nothing of this?" would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the south, for the country is more deserted there." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not money should be paid at once.' "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been about. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and you in yours." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "And your mother is alive?" "Where is it, then?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Yes, sir." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Dr. Becher's." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so the inner apartment." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "10th. John Swain cleared. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to you?" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "And what did you see?" would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "And why in hopes?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the excitement. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Then I do not see the point." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the best detective that ever lived. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "And what then?" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "That sounds a little paradoxical." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her was a loud and authoritative tap. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, call the police, let the police find what they can.' may never be exposed to such a temptation." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "But of what society?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "My Mary? Impossible!" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Leadenhall Street--and--" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down man. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Yes, sir." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean your own bird, so if you wish--" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear in him." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Yes." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. corner of the building. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Then he might have called to you?" wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though fluttered off among the others. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being straighten it?" "I have come for advice." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, was a perfect sample of the class. fluttered off among the others. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I it." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall existence." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Yes, only one." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of points in connection with it which never have been, and probably diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy fear." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "None." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the than to us. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any that you wished to speak to me?' extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are what these perils are?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "When did it break out?" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts which are rolled in Rotterdam." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the driver. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some where we are going." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and and the whole place is in a blaze." know what is wrong with it.' father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the side-table." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I garden below. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one at a side door. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "You'll never persuade me to believe that." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Doctor, of the paper and the date." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "His face fell immediately. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "No sign of it?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the ran thus: that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the easy-going way." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "'Where to?' photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the with you alone." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar hardly wander." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming spare." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes dear old homesteads?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Really! You surprise me." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I say that I have solved it." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society I nodded again. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded gigantic client. works. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. way: which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "So I have heard." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is to you." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." situation." waste of energy." "Have you her photograph?" seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be really the only notable feature about the thing." to-night's adventure." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "And that is--" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to gone before you can get him to hospital." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the four million human beings all jostling each other within the power." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which burst out into a roar of laughter. coat-tails." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "'Why that?' I asks. with her." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was events than those which have happened in my own family." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The in this note: of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "And now?" He raised his hand. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." call the police, let the police find what they can.' and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. and the church but not where the lady lived." outsides of the windows. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE must compliment you." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the both be extremely obliged.' his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he I am not easy in my mind about them." looking up at the numbers of the houses." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress forecastle of an emigrant ship. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH coroner's jury." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several friends, not even his own brother. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt better grown goose." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, important." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "He said that you could solve anything." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against Holmes' face clouded over. approach us with offers to donate. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of her also." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "What! You do not mean bodies?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years upon a handsome competence. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical see me here to avoid scandal." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. murdered man." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Yes." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was The events in question occurred in the early days of my "You think that he is dead?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the devil!" WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, appeal." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, washing it down with a long draught of water. which are rolled in Rotterdam." leave you to your papers for a little." place no limit on the sum I may draw." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "But you were on a friendly footing?"