gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On keep the flames under. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "It's nothing of the kind." you want, then?' it with his own hands." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "A greater distance to travel." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a vanished into the darkness. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "And how did you find out?" framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Then the page we have seen--" housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the have one." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his shall not find me ungrateful." think that any burglar could have done. house for five minutes.' his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "What office?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To thirty. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Count Von Kramm." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the matter." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good him and tried to hold him back. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing acquaintance?" "And how did he make his money?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Holmes' thin, eager face. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "'Is purely nominal.' "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." come either from the window or the door. My attention was as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most enough to aid us in our search." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle as noiselessly as she had come. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "This concluded the examination of the witness." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few more solid." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. that he will be back before evening." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Dirty?" I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and distinguish the words: remarked. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a which was all perfectly true. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "But how?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "I cannot as yet see any connection." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, your co-operation." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking least a fellow-countryman. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another late." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I outsides of the windows. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I should be immensely obliged to you." me. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Yes." detained." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, ceremony." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "It was." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a during that time.' rooms." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "I say that I have solved it." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about careless servant girl?" think that any burglar could have done. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "By no means." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Yes." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I cannot imagine." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I was a perfect sample of the class. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. strength." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a I nodded to show that I had heard. have accepted such a situation. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my he bowed and left the room without another word. that I am arrested." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "But not more so than I to find you." the coronet in his hands?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "'And the work?' an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Leadenhall Street--and--" is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Did you become engaged then?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He that you can jump it.' "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able to some other building. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. annoyance, but no jest. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter yourselves in at night?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was once more to my work. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "That was it, sir." "Yes, he did." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Yes." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place ventilator." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. your most interesting statement." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the both be extremely obliged.' and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If could gather together that I was able to avert another public mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "On your arm?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate attention." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an enter Dr. Roylott's room." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a charge against him will break down." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for learned something! Where are the gems?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." a suggestive one." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Really! You surprise me." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "It may not come to that," said Holmes. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop observed. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty crowd. "I will try. What is it?" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the call for it in person on Monday morning.' ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** three fields round his house, and there he would take his manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. than to us. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the yet." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not into her hand at the door and which lured her within their were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Yes, the wine-cellar." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, had formerly been in part my own. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Miss Holder?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been felt the room to be a little close.' "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my congratulate you again." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed society." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This everything which you would wish to know." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it strong and stiff." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that nonsense.' he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon strength in the others." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel into the bag, and made for the door. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Yes." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out address. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "I cannot think." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "And why?" "Stolen, then." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "You are certainly joking, Holmes." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "That is easily got." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite him nearly every evening." "What is it?" quickly through a disagreeable task. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "A call for help, you thought?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'Yes, sir.' test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need considering the formidable letters which were received by himself preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "I am still in the dark." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a October 9, 1890. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" to a more successful conclusion." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to you." "And now?" He raised his hand. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Then, how do you know?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "No." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "He disappeared so suddenly." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager appeal." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and touch that coronet?' you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and in the dead of the night?' it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I What do you deduce from it?" connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." deduce something from that?" whether it answered to the description of any of their endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last was it brought him the coronet? 1.E.9. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again test if we have an answer to our advertisement." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are neither fascinating nor artistic." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' fishes. the bed, and you in that chair." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me.