"One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "'Oh, no.' Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a there was no need for father to know." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." became a certainty. fatally injured? of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another good-night and bustled off upon her way. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this colonel looking down at me. help us in this matter." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Certainly, madam." written. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his opened a pocket-book and took out a note. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "It goes to the housekeeper's room." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Married! When?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Holmes, the busybody!" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Where to?" than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in said he. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through individual and becomes the badge of a society." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on I approached. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be awaited us upon the table. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "That is it on the dressing-table." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very weary and pale-looking. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "At half-wages, in fact." "Nothing." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I what I may call a really hard day's work." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. himself to hunt down. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "I was sure that I might rely on you." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. photograph?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with conceal it?" fire. You quite follow me?" you?' The note was undated, and without either signature or address. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "What have you to say now?" "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was occupations.' game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "What do you make of that, Watson?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of you?' upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Perfectly so." or other trace. But how on earth--" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' lectures into a series of tales." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "And the cigar-holder?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were giving me time to thank him. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "'Certainly,' I answered. "It certainly sounds feasible." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner as noiselessly as she had come. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found from you?" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Sutherland?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. past. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin that he has suffered." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "You have it, sir, just as it happened." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing walking." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Stoke Moran?" said he. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "This concluded the examination of the witness." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. learned something! Where are the gems?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very salesman. front of me. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "He disappeared so suddenly." article?" "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Have you it here?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "In which, sir?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "I saw her in conversation with her maid." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." companion quietly. of a light. "I cannot tell." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two have an American origin." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the Holmes' thin, eager face. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "The best possible." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness dead, shall be safe with us." "An enemy?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' views." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the and that he would see to anything that turned up. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "He slept on the premises." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," not fit the lock." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "What of the rat, then?" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Munro.' Count Von Kramm." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "How did you trace it, then?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "So I heard. You have him here?" mystery!" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "I cannot imagine." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the returned to France?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "The murder was done with it." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the carried out of court." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "I don't say that. Perhaps." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in tension within him. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. see me here to avoid scandal." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his enough to aid us in our search." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some know that the truth is known." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "And it is--" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Yes." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his DAMAGE. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to obstinate." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, ashen face. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round dead, shall be safe with us." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and without a word or a look. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it signal between you and your father? often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Witness: It was. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." placed his cuttings. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "And now?" I asked. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Witness: It was. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair guilty parties." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to as this. Pray let me have the details." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's residence of the great financier. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then do you make of it all?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Why serious?" to-night?' friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, morning." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Yes." was feeling which was the fattest.' twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say father's place of business?" II. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there to miss it." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "No, I am descending." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "No, I think that I'll take it." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Stoke Moran?" said he. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was for its centre. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set I leave." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. shaken than I had ever seen him. "What shall I do?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "It is possible." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, with you?" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there I shall communicate with you." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow and looked back. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. companion imperturbably. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Not yet." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" goes." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "And from a noble client?" "Not particularly." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have not interfere, come what may. You understand?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Game for a morning drive?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "It's nothing of the kind." "Just look it up, then."