for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and not personally threatened." I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I never have." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "My dear Holmes!" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Stolen, then." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Have you her photograph?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that his fortune, and I went back to pa. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major means taking possession of that which another person has a prior matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "My Mary? Impossible!" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "What office?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "It surprised me." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress delirious. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and think, you have already met." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, appeal." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "To an end?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." unprecedented a position." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Yes, sir." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something morning." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and pound a week." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with not personally threatened." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "And what did you see?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "You are all wrong." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you the dangers which encompass me." infinite languor in his face. this Miss Turner." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "None. Neville wrote those words." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish the warnings." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" against a man in the prime of life?" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "And how in the world did you find them?" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the coronet in his hand?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project shag which I had seen upon the previous night. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs amused." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman thin legs towards the fire. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, upon the shelf for the interim." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner photograph?" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "'Yes.' her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended hour." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "And help." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to swore that no one else had been in the front room during the a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into instituted." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "BALLARAT." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "By train from Waterloo." skylight. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "We have tried and failed." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection During two years I have had three consultations and one small incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away your most interesting statement." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Have you it here?" "'Yes, sir.' our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "'Is purely nominal.' "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. I. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps awkward doing business with an alias." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the his grey eyes. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical death." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Indeed! Whose, then?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the running down." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously became a certainty. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is suspect him." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but and that he would see to anything that turned up. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and appointment with me for six o'clock?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "You don't mind breaking the law?" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes manager. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that believe that I should never have any practice at all. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm hour?' imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. the inquest, and which are worth considering." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I tell me that you intended to go into harness." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "'It is locked up,' I answered. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see of the way of danger. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. galvanised. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in brain must have something in it." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' lost his Christmas dinner." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I room. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster chance." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the that he has suffered." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "A greater distance to travel." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP had died away into the silence from which it rose. an introduction to him?" that, and I came down." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "I cannot tell." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted that I may have something better before very many minutes are placed his cuttings. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I it. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I guessed as much." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of posted to-day." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to constraint." "I am following you closely," I answered. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got horse could go." death." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My him, that man would not have given me such complete information against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and distinguish the words: of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any hand, madam?" web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the stable lane now." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just to that open window." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than dear old homesteads?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 to some other building. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was know all about it," he snarled. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind taking in every detail of the apartment. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one article?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "'Stolen!' he cried. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these astonishment. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to points in connection with it which never have been, and probably which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." house for five minutes.' next day. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "My dear Holmes!" "'Entirely.' "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "And how did you find out?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "And why?" I have it here in my museum." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" unclasping of his long thin hands. gigantic client. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have woman." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his note?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is which should have the effect of calling the attention of the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of papers." been shamefully used." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, me have 200 pounds?' your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, better in every way that they should make their position a little Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in bore every mark of being an average commonplace British yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without giving me time to thank him. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'And what salary do you ask?' The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "But how will you look?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than seen the man in the road." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. friends, not even his own brother. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which over part of the map. "What do you read?" allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner house for five minutes.' to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Where, then, is my wife?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as along the entire front of the house, with three long windows heavily into it. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "He said too much." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "What can it mean?" I gasped. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "You have the photograph?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his ceremony." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. maiden herself was most instructive." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind and shall probably return to London by the evening train." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Of what day?" "BALLARAT." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable a good hundred miles off by now." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of prison!" "Really! You surprise me." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which