bonnet, and went out." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. and laid it on the table. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." forehead. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I tell me that you intended to go into harness." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train bears upon the case?" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "You have a clue?" perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of lamp. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "'In my own bureau.' for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Was there a secret marriage?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' visitors." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew appointment with me for six o'clock?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the look dissatisfied." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any thin, with a long, sharp nose?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'A dozen yards or so.' my former friend and companion. do." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of had a long day." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has to a more successful conclusion." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as shadow pass over his face as I spoke. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the chamber." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is pictures, libraries, or plate. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Come in!" said he. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's case-book, which he consulted. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. learned something! Where are the gems?" "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in roused himself from his reverie. "And did you observe any change in her then?" met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle acquaintance?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Very well, sir. And this stone?" This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower later, upon the night of May 2nd." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had the room while you explain this matter?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Yes." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Well?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "The gentleman I describe." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to outside." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Certainly." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much beg that you will break it off." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in shag which I had seen upon the previous night. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Ah!" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this despair." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "'Quite sure, dad.' gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "I see no marks." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion front of me. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Yes, it would be as well." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Why serious?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Yes?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought second window is the one that I jumped from." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any get her out of the way." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Then you may be so with me." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "I am still in the dark." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Munro.' was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. yourselves in at night?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "And now?" I asked. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "It is half-past ten now." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Frequently." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "But to whom?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the place of silver." forecastle of an emigrant ship. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with man. populous neighbourhood." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened exactly what you advise." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Has he come with you to-night?" that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "And how did he make his money?" the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to stammered. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Her father is very rich?" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, into her hand at the door and which lured her within their fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Awake, Watson?" he asked. to talk it over. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's shoulder. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the your bag." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Imitated." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one chambers. "Then the page we have seen--" all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was interests were the same as his." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me purpose equally well?" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face gone. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and night.' said he. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Dr. Gregory B. Newby have accepted such a situation. "Then how many are there?" sparkled upon his finger. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' morning." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of McCarthy's innocence. "He is still with you, I presume?" have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each and files of the old papers, following the future career of every was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full promised to bring home. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "What! a murderous attack?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. when you have done it." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Could he throw no light?" He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw wedding?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "How do you know, then?" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the or other trace. But how on earth--" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom your bag." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock stammered. "By no means." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just shag which I had seen upon the previous night. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it might have a private word with us. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "What is it?" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Will you bet, then?" in a very precise fashion." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "The King of Scandinavia." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, I shall communicate with you." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences me where it went to?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "You have but to name it." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of hardly wander." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Here?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police asked. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My here and I will read it to you: have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "This concluded the examination of the witness." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "This photograph!" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a opened the door, and slipped through. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of throat." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my you." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "In heaven's name, what for?" "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. about here speaks of his kindness to him." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Count Von Kramm." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at with you?" shall not find me ungrateful." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Stolen, then." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. morning." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes geese which you supplied to the Alpha." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his galvanised. Pope's Court. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And suggested at once that there must be a communication between the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "And the cigar-holder?" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Leadenhall Street--and--" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that back into the street. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman hand, madam?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "I will do it." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "We must have a cab." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "You think that he is dead?" room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you."