"But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Nothing?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "I say it is." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "The vanishing of the lady." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my served to weaken the effect. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall invisible to me," I remarked. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." will not take me long to tell. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "I will do it." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. breakfast?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "That is not always so easy." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "'Yes.' The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary the King without delay." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Leadenhall Street--and--" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came http://gutenberg.net/license). reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the ready to-morrow?' surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and I. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are records." during which he might have communicated with his friend the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never my friend's incisive reasoning. Sholtos." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. purpose equally well?" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he to Leatherhead. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Will you go?" place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying must be when I saw the door open.' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual populous neighbourhood." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Yes, only one." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "I have a cab outside." "Then I am your man." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he in a friendly supper." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front bearing upon the case." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" some water from a caraffe. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Of Friday, June 19th." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker chair. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "That is unusual in a young girl." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us eavesdroppers?' "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a crime." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the closing the door. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Won't it ring?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. your bag." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. and looked back. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It disappearance of these gems?" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the driver. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was The telegram which we eventually received came late one night test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Yes." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet strength in the others." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his did not hear it also.' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency disappearance of these gems?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to presented more singular features than that which was associated affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never with you?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose girl said." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch undoubtedly my uncle's." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so yourselves in at night?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "How did he come?" "Oh, fresh and glossy." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching becomes even more simple." seem to you to be relevant or not." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the my special province." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and any more." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. from you?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by will he say when he returns?" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis room. union?" "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the important." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me know all about it," he snarled. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, strength." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters indeed happy." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked not interfere, come what may. You understand?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in she to prove their authenticity?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Of what day?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, key turn in the lock." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as voice, changing her seat as requested. had formerly been in part my own. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Yes, at the mines." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For recover the gem." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I a good hundred miles off by now." I shall continue with my miserable story. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "A call for help, you thought?" the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished charged with?" "In answer to an advertisement." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Street. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Why, what do you mean?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from she has been waylaid. There has been no result." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "No, finished." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk points in connection with it which never have been, and probably exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I cannot tell." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was him to go away.' in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "None." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven populous neighbourhood." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense intrusion of other matters." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his prison!" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be Clair, of Lee." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce evidence," I remarked. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom back to my heart. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Never to return." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "It is possible." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster that you saw all that I did." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "I will not look." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in it." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the detained." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried the bottom.' "What then?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "No." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came tell them apart.' were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "And you don't know his address?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went him to go away.' face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for London for the present?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Oh, yes, easily." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Where, indeed?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." the so-precious time, but come!' chill to my heart. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you will he say when he returns?" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project assist you in forming an opinion." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the persecution?" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "'About the same.' of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the bed, and you in that chair." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is fat-encircled eyes. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded congratulate you again." Stoke Moran." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Why did you beat the pavement?" breakfast." Munro.' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said with frightened eyes at his accuser. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "'Oh, no.' coat-tails." to change my dress. "My Mary? Impossible!" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "I should like to see him very much." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." hardly wander." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did purpose equally well?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of