dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "He might." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly what do you think they found in the pockets?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Who by?" "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" figure." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will weighed down with some great anxiety. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the said he. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. existence." "And why in hopes?" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way his grey eyes. call you and give you the chance." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have jewels which you have stolen?' of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Yes, he did." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Yes." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what is worth.' caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could union?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a absolutely follow my advice in every respect." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "How about poison?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes fattened it expressly for you.' the inquest, and which are worth considering." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, over with notes and figures. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Of what?" "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Then you may entirely rely on me." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "'I have already given you my word.' knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "'Never.' her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this least a fellow-countryman. brain must have something in it." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has For additional contact information: of campaign. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were cigar and let me expound." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a constraint." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had the matter." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he the address that was given us in the advertisement. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" him to go away.' there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "But how did you gain them?" "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "The gentleman I describe." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Where does the thing come from?' prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "And what then?" my room." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her bonnet, and went out." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small my secret was safe in his possession. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "And what then?" second window is the one that I jumped from." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" the station." that you can jump it.' terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Never." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Witness: Nothing definite. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads tear off another piece?' wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." this Miss Turner." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who British peeress.'" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending signal between you and your father? over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Perfectly so." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip crowd. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind to that open window." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said ran thus: arms and began to sob in a high treble key. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the followed. "What then?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, face and glided from the room. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully seven miles from Eyford Station.' the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable outsides of the windows. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." and the church but not where the lady lived." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both But Holmes shook his head gravely. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he generous with you in money matters.' "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "They are typewritten," I remarked. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "I shall be delighted." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. had a long day." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has rooms." is," said he presently: pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "It came here." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "So I am. Very much so." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' it means?" just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, case before our client came into the room." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the better grown goose." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always could go. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Were they all fastened this morning?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, mystery!" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. of a light. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom fait accompli?" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Where does the thing come from?' the running down." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." good-night and bustled off upon her way. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Mary, has deserted me." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no of it with the greatest attention. "'And the work?' "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Well?" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for the bed, and you in that chair." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "It is very clear." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my of Fenchurch Street." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." and it need not interfere very much with one's other was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "I am in hopes that she does." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "So I heard. You have him here?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the warnings." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you his face. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "'There is a drive, then?' was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes business?" arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so to have been novel and of interest." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Perfectly so." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "And I to find an enemy." as the one I chose?' "Then he might have called to you?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were the loss of it. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away forebodings. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and once more to my work. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Witness: It was. a very grave face. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know undoubtedly my uncle's." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, anything to do with the matter?" "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight meant it for the best. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a both be extremely obliged.' "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Serpentine Avenue. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Ample." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there bell. Holmes whistled. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had there is a decided draught." "Who was the criminal, then?" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt geese which you supplied to the Alpha." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms here and I will read it to you: quite distinctive." "You are all wrong." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the Foundation "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole copied or distributed: "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert of the way of danger. Holmes rather sternly. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "It missed him, then?" matter over." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend it." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "You saw the ventilator, too?" as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between a few minutes he said that it would be all right. said he. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, directors, with the result that you have seen." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "But you have hopes?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Then I shall certainly come." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "What office?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "My opinion is in no way altered." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no to tackle the facts." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his followed. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the guilty one." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the unprecedented a position." the station." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "I say it is." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is and shall probably return to London by the evening train." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room.