purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to maid will bring up your coffee." "What can it mean?" I gasped. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all his face which made him a very different person to the round, that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, back alive. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been you do it in twenty minutes!' formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "And what then?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, and inquire as to the address." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I have seen the police." "My last client of the sort was a king." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "What! a murderous attack?" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you call you and give you the chance." indeed happy." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "How long did she speak to this Alice?" a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Then I can wait in the next room." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his hurried by. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they to have been novel and of interest." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no that threaten you." be.' play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual 1.F. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Yes." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "What, then?" your co-operation." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper For additional contact information: in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "And how?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their events than those which have happened in my own family." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at to have been novel and of interest." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Come in!" said he. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. goes." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore cost them two and thirty pounds." light and attacked it." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "I am still in the dark." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "What, then, did Peterson do?" "What! You do not mean bodies?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is desk. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "'Not at all. I only doubt--' new acquaintance to Baker Street. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't easy-going way." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "What, then, did Peterson do?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the away into the river." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of suspect him." him." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a corner of the building. "You will not go there first?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a people don't know." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "But not more so than I to find you." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "What! You do not mean bodies?" Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and peculiar to him. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" sound at heart." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Really! You surprise me." "I do." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "But your client--" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you daring than any effort of the imagination." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an nights." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would and no precautions can guard against." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "In the cells." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I tassel actually lying upon the pillow. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "And why in hopes?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a such person." dates and names. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have a little more before I quite committed myself. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his leave you to your papers for a little." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were and wait." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me and a shock of very red hair. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. everything which you would wish to know." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who of it with the greatest attention. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than have not had my rubber." the house with me." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the morning." His name is Francis Prosper." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and for its centre. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a next day. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her gone before you can get him to hospital." "'Where could I find him?' and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and way in everything. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. McCarthy's innocence. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Why? What do you mean?" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in come either from the window or the door. My attention was with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than again, where I was soon asleep. jewels which you have stolen?' "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an good-night and bustled off upon her way. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "You don't mind breaking the law?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he possible that we could bring him back to her? the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon are, I think, all that we need." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the think you a quite exceptional woman." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "The doctor?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "I do." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it your own bird, so if you wish--" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be quite distinctive." to change my dress. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Did your wife hear all this?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "A confidential servant?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "It's nothing of the kind." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Two days later this same performance was gone through under was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and carried out of court." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. seen the man in the road." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." heavy and sharp instrument." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very chambers. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Only as much as we can deduce." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, was a loud and authoritative tap. your Highness to the police-station?" over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, answered with a sidelong glance. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not during that time.' boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "I cannot think." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between morning." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, me. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "It must be recovered." with some details as to your case." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, past. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am detained." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father but preventing her from injuring another. Heh?' fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had appeared upon the scene." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been away in different directions, and I went off to make my own the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that at a side door. "Just look it up, then." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "I do." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last him." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms ready to-morrow?' upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "The best possible." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told golden eyeglasses. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, said I. do." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. signal between you and your father? "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. man. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some your sleep?' "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an him." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door at my own good fortune. keep the flames under. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still four million human beings all jostling each other within the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her once more. this poor creature." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of until night should bring an explanation. way: "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood row." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Then I am your man." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, Mary, has deserted me." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking I shall continue with my miserable story. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "But his left-handedness." as he folded up the epistle. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a