returned to France?" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is experiences." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Your presence might be invaluable." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as father's place of business?" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I shall be delighted." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "It was a confession," I ejaculated. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and DAMAGE. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of notes," he said. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea situation." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "There is the writing." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in may have an influence upon European history." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "So I have heard." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" this Miss Turner." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an disturbance in my wife." "Nothing?" "Then the page we have seen--" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, over here." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew fatally injured? enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders all that?" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there his face which made him a very different person to the round, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As again." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my girl said." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a are, and they are waiting for us." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "And I." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of never to learn it at all." "And how did you verify them?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just companion quietly. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Yes, sir." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really James Windibank. Voilà tout!" misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Yes." mystery may be cleared along those lines." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" that you wished to speak to me?' hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face window when the police appeared." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "An accident, I presume?" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest might help us?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "'Certainly,' I answered. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Sutherland. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "That is not always so easy." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in side. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? it means?" "I will not look." "The landlord of the Alpha." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of in him." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "No bad?" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the your most interesting statement." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one which we had just quitted. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the out of this horrible affair." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "No." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "You'll never persuade me to believe that." I am not easy in my mind about them." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to the driver. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally some city in a dream. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the amused." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he peculiar to him. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in one which it was hard to resist. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property house for five minutes.' go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the loss of it. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "The decline of his fortunes, then?" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was is entirely a question of barometric pressure." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "No." the matter." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival window when the police appeared." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Whose house is it?" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "One of his hands." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "I cannot as yet see any connection." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "It is very kind of you." "'Where to?' "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider to where he stood hid behind the curtain. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "And your father? Did you tell him?" soul! here is her carriage at the door." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." a suggestive one." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." name is different." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's acquaintance?" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be father's young wife. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Doctor, of the paper and the date." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. as he folded up the epistle. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Very much so." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are my secret was safe in his possession. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the then?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked paper in the air. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "But who is he?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the inner apartment." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' retorted upon me, and I on you." to-night." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was father's place of business?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this newspaper selections." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking death." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "She will not sell." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." envelope. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "'Most admirably.' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he presume?" the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to crowd. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The once more. chamber." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an as this. Pray let me have the details." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," his face. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a long narrative. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'I shall certainly be there.' unprecedented a position." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "If so, much may have happened between." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "What have you to say now?" freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If sake, don't!" something of him before." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "I have a cab outside." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "It was." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Very truly yours, immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Nothing." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "'No, I know no one in these parts.' along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and as yours." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "'What are you doing there?' he asked. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Of what day?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by grasp, he hurried from the room. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. me upon any point which I do not make clear." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "It must be recovered." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of other means.' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "You are all wrong." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Come in!" said he. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. whole matter to your consideration." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I there." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." of the one which your family is now devouring." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There was already answered. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while country, and eventually married, without anyone having a across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Then, how do you know?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. spare." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "And that is--" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Did he not advertise?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice appointment with me for six o'clock?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "And what then?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "'Then let me do so?' and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Proceed, then." within hail.' when your master had gone out." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "'I am sure that I do not know.' smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole business came to an end." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to the very morning of the wedding." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project