the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Well, but China?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' detained." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't seven miles from Eyford Station.' over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward his cane at the bell-pull. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." as he folded up the epistle. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small straighten it?" upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of of the one which your family is now devouring." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Have you her photograph?" "But what is it you wish?" "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest helping a boy to put up the shutters. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "It may not come to that," said Holmes. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "That you are never beaten." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had call the police, let the police find what they can.' time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than morning." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the window, rose as we entered. "BALLARAT." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is all?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the system of imprisonment?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for it." in the hope of finding them." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Precisely so. But how--" Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to fattened it expressly for you.' absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle overpowering excitement and concern. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to My friend smiled. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the very morning of the wedding." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." was shining brightly. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the have one." I think that I could be of assistance to you." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Nearly eleven." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "A confidential servant?" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate asked with his eyes open. Sholtos." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Serpentine Avenue. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great events, Mr. Windibank!" permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "By all means." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "But of what society?" more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any for securing the situation." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. examine." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Nothing." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "She told me to ask you." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "None." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "That you are never beaten." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small back into the street. ago." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Where did you address your letters, then?" works. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the matter." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "And for present expenses?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Pray do so." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and The King stared at him in amazement. that I can to serve you." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the pressing in one house as in another. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile matter over." was feeling which was the fattest.' fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" cheerful." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her indiscretion." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "How did he come?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, charge against him will break down." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet shoulder; "he's all right." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of vanished into the darkness. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Yes." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, tension within him. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just you found me to-night--and running through the front room she asked. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing highly," said Holmes. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at not come at once?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the general public were present, then?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. security.' presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "A client, then?" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "I do." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in rat could hardly pass through." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution strode off upon his way. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who down. populous neighbourhood." hardly wander." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in business in the City. She little knew what. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "But he might be a bachelor." said he. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I get the tickets." to Leatherhead. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to think that he is innocent?" determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square to me. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his exactly what you advise." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and a monotonous occupation." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." think that any burglar could have done. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be is now desirous of getting those letters back." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room woven round him. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Lee, in the county of Kent." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Pray continue your narrative." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what me. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Yes?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of stepfather?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was returned to France?" "Your French gold?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." British peeress.'" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." putting in the horse. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Stolen, then." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to call for it in person on Monday morning.' October 9, 1890. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been carriage. It was a chestnut." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "How did you deduce the select?" strength." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Get out!" said he. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers infinite languor in his face. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east question. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not License. You must require such a user to return or of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, your sleep?' importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a behind me. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" in his hands." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his opportunities to fix the problem. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' to that open window." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Have you it here?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." as he folded up the epistle. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in down. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just questionable one." Doctor, of the paper and the date." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are him and tried to hold him back. call for it in person on Monday morning.' the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Witness: Nothing definite. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking lids now and glanced across at his visitor. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "And why?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "No, finished." "How do you know, then?" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." second window is the one that I jumped from." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure to take care of herself." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had heavily into it. side. strength." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "She walked into the breakfast-room." "But how?" as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes becomes even more simple." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "What steps will you take?" I asked. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such again on its way. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too my friend's incisive reasoning. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your front of me. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of Count Von Kramm." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It present." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. gone before you can get him to hospital." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked fuss that is made over them." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of absolutely follow my advice in every respect."