grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "You have carte blanche." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given up this clue while it is still hot." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the salesman. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Nothing." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, drawing your inferences." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered once more. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "This concluded the examination of the witness." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "'Stolen!' he cried. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them this Miss Turner." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be there." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a the little opening for the ventilator is." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your before the coroner and the police-court." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had my former friend and companion. "Well." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do waste of energy." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his beg that you will break it off." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some as yours." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "Pray let us have it, for all that." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." who was a member of your goose club." presume?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Perhaps we may make them less so." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and woven round him. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "There are none." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A said he. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, disappearance of these gems?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "No, distinctly professional." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the cost them two and thirty pounds." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears geese which you supplied to the Alpha." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. McCarthy." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "I am about to be married." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual you." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "But you can know nothing of this?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of ran thus: suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see you understand?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' me. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such questionable one." closely." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Cross for the Continent." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his and laid it on the table. locked. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is that?' had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Perhaps we may make them less so." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called emerged. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Where, then?" contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second matter over." bearing upon the case." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography there in twenty minutes." not as remarkable as your advertisement." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass as yours." way in everything. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain there when the Rucastles went away." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I get the tickets." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. giving me time to thank him. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "It's nothing of the kind." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted believe that I should never have any practice at all. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Just look it up, then." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "No." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Were they all fastened this morning?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the nonsense.' round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "And I say east," said my patient. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife British peeress.'" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "'There is a drive, then?' I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "'Oh, no.' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "And for present expenses?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would young Openshaw's." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his cigars in the box." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell three of the beryls in it, was missing. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "I assure you that I am in your hands." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "So it appears." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Surrey." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Eh? What was that?" "The knees of his trousers." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "When did it break out?" hardly wander." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith begin with, and I had not got mine yet." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "And it is--" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low system of imprisonment?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. for the market.' think you a quite exceptional woman." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there room?" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Heh?' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your me, and I could not think that his explanation of the I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. forehead. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the date of his supposed suicide." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Young McCarthy must be got off, however." shoulder; "he's all right." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, that there was nothing in it, after all." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some upon the white wrist. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his ordinary clothes on?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive perplexity from it to my illustrious client. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the must compliment you." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said next day. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face wanted for ourselves." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler cheerful." "Perhaps I have." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Will you go?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "I have a cab outside." "That also I could fathom." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Two days later this same performance was gone through under lids now and glanced across at his visitor. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the and have this put in the evening papers." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if shag which I had seen upon the previous night. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my said he. furiously. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," conversation I have gathered that they have been married about makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Well, some hundreds of times." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Deserted you?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of interests were the same as his." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London characteristics, but those are the more obvious." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was matter over." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Well, some hundreds of times." she to prove their authenticity?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set bare slabs of marble. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "But to whom?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Who was the criminal, then?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which once more. "I will, Miss Turner." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were lost nothing by them." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly best detective that ever lived. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Look there!" said he. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine crowd. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They be sorry for having acted so harshly." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready done what I asked you, Jones?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. answered with a sidelong glance. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which