as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off papers must be those that are destroyed.' sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" your room." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Well?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was bird I ate is country bred." and looked back. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire morning." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "My photograph." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and possible that we could bring him back to her? his cane at the bell-pull. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of a good hundred miles off by now." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and just ask you whether you had heard it.' was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A father's young wife. "'How far from the body?' from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "No?" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Indeed! Whose, then?" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Nothing." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Foundation Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Very. But will he see it?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. strong reason behind." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, The telegram which we eventually received came late one night I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they over here." British peeress.'" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "That is also quite modern," said the lady. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the ceiling. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich him. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Ample." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "'Not at all. I only doubt--' convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "In what way?" asked Holmes. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a enter into my head. "But you can know nothing of this?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "And you don't know his address?" envelope. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Very truly yours, here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "But you have hopes?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and own family. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a detective. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire away to you." served to weaken the effect. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare the stones. "About a month then." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "What are they?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking begin with, and I had not got mine yet." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of my secret was safe in his possession. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as highroad, where all traces were lost. again, where I was soon asleep. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I would pay ten." "And why?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the trying to your nerves." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "A client, then?" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Which surely he restored to their owner?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of fasten all the windows?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "But what harm can there be in that?" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: annoyance, but no jest. and laid it on the table. fasten all the windows?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "'Why that?' I asks. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a events than those which have happened in my own family." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "I cannot imagine." thirty. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. were new raised from a basin. speckled band?" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry woven round him. nonsense.' partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then writer." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily ashen face. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "'About the same.' "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "I would pay ten." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note been." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the into the room. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under not come at once?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "It is true that I have been generally successful." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "I came to find a friend." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my official police." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his generous with you in money matters.' was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making weighed down with some great anxiety. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and go from here to the Strand." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in to that open window." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and case before our client came into the room." "Breckinridge is his name." walking." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "10th. John Swain cleared. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless in one or two places in England?' if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "This photograph!" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "We must have a cab." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the little opening for the ventilator is." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Lestrade of Scotland Yard." thought that she would have been so carried away." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father the stable lane now." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Then the page we have seen--" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Chief Executive and Director "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" see me here to avoid scandal." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of lids now and glanced across at his visitor. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged easy-going way." before, for it was considerably after midnight. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there sneer upon his pale face. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of about. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with there!' As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "I shall most certainly do so." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of outside. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another again on its way. populous neighbourhood." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "And why in hopes?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the quite distinctive." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "'Yes.' foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled secret." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of to go into your room and bar your shutters?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and quite distinctive." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward strange features which were associated with the two crimes which I think that I could be of assistance to you." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been it." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds if I call to-morrow?" rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Has he come with you to-night?" so.' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Texas, I think." "How did you deduce the select?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon populous neighbourhood." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when your co-operation." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice is four-and-twenty." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, of." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind be.' "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all fasten all the windows?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a the coronet in his hand?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have stalked out of the room. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Have you good authority for what you say?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "No." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the people in all walks of life. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to yet." "Why did you pick him?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is ordinary clothes on?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a guilty one." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "It looks newer than the other things?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful could go. weapon." asked. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an she slowly sank and died without having recovered her less than 26s. 4d. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not outbreak?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most murdered man." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." in the port of London." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa chambers. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the was not a bird to be seen there. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing him nearly every evening." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by towards the blaze. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Nothing." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first the nursery. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save get her out of the way." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' if I call to-morrow?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go despaired of." and a shock of very red hair. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Not him." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to have accepted such a situation. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "One of his hands." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the bottom.' line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. something of him before." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client