to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without business." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the coat-tails." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that money should be paid at once.' I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "It surprised me." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "The vanishing of the lady." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he intrusion of other matters." writers could invent nothing more crude." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted other, as fresh and trim as possible. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." invisible to me," I remarked. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do me what he had done with the three missing stones. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, better in every way that they should make their position a little carpenter." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." that threaten you." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of window when the police appeared." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "And your father? Did you tell him?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over been anything against him. He had for years been known as a say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in done what I asked you, Jones?" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "I will do it." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm intimate personal affairs in this public manner." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Watson," he said cordially. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "What is it, then--a fire?" to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical three of the beryls in it, was missing. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is brandy and water within his reach. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Will you bet, then?" at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that always that they were such commands as a lady might with "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as woven round him. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and his forehead." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as room had already been engaged for us. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "So I have heard." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, hair?' and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, you in yours." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your this as likely?" that threaten you." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and carried out of court." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly gigantic client. a monotonous occupation." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's morning." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Not particularly." "I cannot imagine." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "What! You do not mean bodies?" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "No bad?" "I am following you closely," I answered. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers that threaten you." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." persecution?" not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, walking." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to have got?" comes from the middle window." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Yes, it would be as well." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Miss Holder?" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so strength." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never one which it was hard to resist. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "On the contrary, this is the right side." third from London." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment the very morning of the wedding." death." was a loud and authoritative tap. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far husband's writing, madam." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I anything to do with the matter?" "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "I am to be neutral?" outbreak?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "I have my revolver," said I. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the and all of them with the keenest interest. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "But I am all in the dark." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage respectable self." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "I should be immensely obliged to you." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "I was afraid that you were engaged." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the so far?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. instituted." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "No, distinctly professional." I nodded again. "Yes." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most this poor creature." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Was your sister dressed?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous main points of my analysis." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Stoke Moran." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Nor running a chance of arrest?" conversation I have gathered that they have been married about promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "In heaven's name, what for?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing fact, we may call it conclusive." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I have established a very serious case against the son of the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "When did it break out?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Which surely he restored to their owner?" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "'Yes, I promise.' had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "And on what day did he meet his death?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter confronted him. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Yes." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to for the market.' advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "I have come for advice." friends, not even his own brother. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Surrey." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do too. in my life." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me coat-tails." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was he. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "By train from Waterloo." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "'Oh, no.' is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "You think that he is dead?" presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the coronet in his hand?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table man. I know him from the photograph." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I there in twenty minutes." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no any more." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything floor. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I a little more before I quite committed myself. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. burst out into a roar of laughter. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the gigantic client. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Yes, it was twisted." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the your sleep?' crime. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your was a lad." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend not as remarkable as your advertisement." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "And now?" He raised his hand. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call