calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "The landlord of the Alpha." "I have seen the police." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that humiliation." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "The Cedars?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "I have seen the police." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" skylight. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, system of imprisonment?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an was shining brightly. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the get the tickets." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Dirty?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "You have compromised yourself seriously." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Yes." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had ran thus: "On the contrary, this is the right side." Holmes." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Yes, it was twisted." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "'Is 4 pounds a week.' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to you." Sutherland?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at call it cruel." "It certainly sounds feasible." "Married! When?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in it." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, was already answered. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies reach." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before which it had come upon my father." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." sufficient punishment." business at Coburg Square is serious." excitement. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would characteristics, but those are the more obvious." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, morning." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'Quite sure, dad.' his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his easy-going way." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary soul! here is her carriage at the door." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should we went to search for him, face downward in a little great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the to tell." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "It is very clear." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been standing smiling on the door-step. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "And what did you see?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the of." distinguish the words: suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, whereabouts. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, he. correct than the official force." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who gentleman's clothes. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Pope's Court. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my was not a bird to be seen there. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was newspaper selections." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Gutenberg-tm License. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg spare." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the stones. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to shaken than I had ever seen him. he bowed and left the room without another word. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is to take care of herself." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "When did she vanish, then?" problems help me to do so." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without call you and give you the chance." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Precisely." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly problems help me to do so." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical address. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Have you it here?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Proceed, then." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune triumphant cloud from his cigarette. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction here." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project you give your casting vote to?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. tension within him. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of spark where all is dark to me." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not wedding?" "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, I leave." "Your presence might be invaluable." "But it has twice been burgled." too. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the interested in these little problems, and since you are good Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and is now desirous of getting those letters back." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "My dear Holmes!" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Won't it ring?" Arthur Conan Doyle should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily to a light-house. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to beyond words. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "And why?" Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH some water from a caraffe. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair awaited us upon the table. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of upon the sideboard." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "No. His orders were to stay in the house." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We me what he had done with the three missing stones. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an how narrow had been my escape. house for five minutes.' useful material for showing traces. The double line a little must be when I saw the door open.' his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet whatever might befall. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Not particularly." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became client, rising. DAMAGE. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "I say that I have solved it." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Nearly eleven." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Chief Executive and Director ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "'I have heard so.' say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what shall use the carriage to-night." "No good news?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See your billet.' absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "What I expected to see." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather from the brougham. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Breckinridge is his name." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and who was a member of your goose club." drawing your inferences." the inner apartment." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly of campaign. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window asked. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and records." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "I cannot imagine." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my visitors." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Surrey." his grey eyes. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. straighten it?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Seven!" I answered. mystery." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the young Openshaw's." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have business came to an end." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, never came back." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "And I to find an enemy." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I should be immensely obliged to you." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Heh?' instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "And it is--" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was which was all perfectly true. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a tightly behind him. "Yes." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening."