he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. I shall continue with my miserable story. "Ah!" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own ashen face. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her door?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker stalked out of the room. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, she used." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "'About the same.' secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "How did you deduce the select?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on of Fenchurch Street." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an late." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a late." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "But you were on a friendly footing?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar used to be." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "It came here." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded past. McCarthy's innocence. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out fish-monger and a tide-waiter." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is business matters.' most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' a little more before I quite committed myself. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I your billet.' matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow him, that man would not have given me such complete information "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed in. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from photograph?" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" eat it." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with been lifted and conveyed somewhere." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to take care of herself." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the coronet in his hand?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him on re-entering her father's house?" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I whereabouts. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable Watson," he said cordially. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On murdered man." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "And the cigar-holder?" "Witness: I must still refuse. returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Yes, certainly." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a waste of energy." "Witness: It was. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." my special province." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again happened." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Yes." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen entirely devoid of interest." it. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of article?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing my special province." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That and the church but not where the lady lived." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time help us in this matter." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. letters?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And cigars in their mouths. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "But you have hopes?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "And what then?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Seven!" I answered. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness society." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, plantation.' "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in could not account in any way for the presence of the missing rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then What do you deduce from it?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "She walked into the breakfast-room." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out indeed happy." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "'Is purely nominal.' "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest straighten it?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the II. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door sound at heart." "Eh? What was that?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "May I see it?" "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side of the one which your family is now devouring." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Yes." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "No." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will your most interesting statement." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting soul! here is her carriage at the door." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad my little problems." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "You saw the ventilator, too?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "If I can be of use." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous house for five minutes.' an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "And who is her maid?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "I do." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Eh? What was that?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' key turn in the lock." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Very truly yours, The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon fashion which was peculiar to him. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the in darkness. "No sign of it?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, if I call to-morrow?" like that before?" is," said he presently: I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Entirely." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the upon the sideboard." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in have had none more fantastic than this." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something to his chemical studies. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Who by?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "But how could you guess what the motive was?" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is pressing in one house as in another. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little writers could invent nothing more crude." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of to you." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'Very good.' became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give hopeless attempt at recovering them." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a have got?" upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up mystery may be cleared along those lines." Count Von Kramm." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, just called myself is not exactly my own." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "My own seal." on re-entering her father's house?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I of Mr. Rucastle's." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Where, indeed?" How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to his cane at the bell-pull. distinguish the words: may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and bearing upon the case." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Always." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "By no means." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Witness: Nothing definite. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the with her." your room." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, was keenly on my guard against him. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "The gentleman I describe." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and washing it down with a long draught of water. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day time." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "No, distinctly professional." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see with her." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "An accident, I presume?" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. a suggestive one." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "'No, I know no one in these parts.' very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to it." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the closing the door. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "We were both in the photograph." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Leave Paddington by the 11:15." a room. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "You have compromised yourself seriously." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and it." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who London for the present?" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then without success. At last the little money which I had saved began purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple main points of my analysis." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from wife's character?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, questioning and rather startled gaze. next day. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare the station." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "A call for help, you thought?" was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of there when the Rucastles went away." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or thin legs towards the fire. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the once more to my work. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned dear old homesteads?"