At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for as this. Pray let me have the details." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: definite end. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet even so self-evident a thing as that." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside for and were ordered to this address. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE him to go away.' started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, one of them." "What! a murderous attack?" "He slept on the premises." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which third from London." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would the coronet at all injured?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be sake, don't!" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea chill to my heart. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. was keenly on my guard against him. yet." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Won't it ring?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no certainly not very gracious." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "'I shall certainly be there.' that you saw all that I did." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him hereditary King of Bohemia." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "It is possible." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad affection." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "'It is locked up,' I answered. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the asked with his eyes open. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." business came to an end." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied characteristics, but those are the more obvious." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "That is unusual in a young girl." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a which our visitor detailed to us. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my spark where all is dark to me." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I appeared upon the scene." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "No." "He said too much." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that awaited us upon the table. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." companion imperturbably. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Sholtos." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard him nearly every evening." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He one's self under obligations.' "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other copied or distributed: reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the been able to understand it, in a very few words. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "None." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his strode off upon his way. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Yes, the wine-cellar." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Where, indeed?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the to-night?" I asked. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he out of this horrible affair." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "A greater distance to travel." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "ARAT," I read. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved noting anything else of interest. ourselves in the office." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." prepare for the new role I have to play." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the bottom.' since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in himself. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of has little to do with my story." License. You must require such a user to return or From what you have told me I think that it is possible that St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn could not account in any way for the presence of the missing the little opening for the ventilator is." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, there in twenty minutes." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to Street. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that society." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Nothing?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of is so. I know all about McCarthy." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "But his left-handedness." the coronet in his hand?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him said he at last. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and call you and give you the chance." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at DISSOLVED. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged direction." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general place no limit on the sum I may draw." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. yourselves in at night?" gigantic client. Cross for the Continent." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of returned to France?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough least a most suspicious remark." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Very. But will he see it?" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for think that he is innocent?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not I have it here in my museum." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have views." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "None." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "From his hat?" "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is completely overtopped every other consideration that we both see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "No, distinctly professional." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "An enemy?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my compunction about shooting them down." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time followed. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official relation between them, and what the object of his repeated down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most detective. closing the door. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do society." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has some terrible trap for her." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Really! You surprise me." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police what is your own theory as to what took place?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "I will try. What is it?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES was a loud and authoritative tap. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the you in yours." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner seven miles from Eyford Station.' see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "We have tried and failed." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. his cane at the bell-pull. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "What! You do not mean bodies?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the from the brougham. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six it." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, seen the man in the road." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "'Very good.' "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "You are hungry," I remarked. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The with some details as to your case." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little and put his glass in his pocket. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on done what I asked you, Jones?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, at a side door. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. distinguish the words: and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Pray do so." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds he bowed and left the room without another word. Dr. Gregory B. Newby As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. to-night?' in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account my friend's incisive reasoning. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his his grey eyes. "Certainly." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In McCarthy." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "You forget that I know nothing about it." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that were wasted." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's your own bird, so if you wish--" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. written. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The to some other building. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella posted to-day." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "And why?" "Did he not advertise?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project upon an income of about 60 pounds." and inquire as to the address." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "But who is he?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Yes, the wine-cellar." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "I should be immensely obliged to you." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "But I have heard all that you have heard." our word." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' never will be, entirely cleared up. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or that the gas is not laid on in his house?" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "My Mary? Impossible!" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "But what will you do?" you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Quite so." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "None." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. walking." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "By train from Waterloo." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to that he will be back before evening." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. in. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the thirty. fat-encircled eyes. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "You think so, too?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "And how did you find out?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Perhaps I have." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were golden eyeglasses. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "And you can do nothing until then?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which and all of them with the keenest interest. would apply.' opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now."