quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "She showed me, as I told you she would." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if what do you think they found in the pockets?" do.' "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." mysterious end." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the question. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of think, you have already met." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, shaken than I had ever seen him. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall his huge brown hands. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his down. how narrow had been my escape. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at second." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual was lame." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "How on earth--" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness fear." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week dear old homesteads?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "What shall I do?" doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted at once, for I have only half an hour." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Get out!" said he. to-night's adventure." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been the morning and make my own way in the world.' laugh and put his lips to my ear. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Project Gutenberg-tm works. me." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and to Leatherhead. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of open." unprecedented a position." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, night.' said he. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers go--none." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you which are rolled in Rotterdam." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of there were so many in the whole country as were brought together case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this have got?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Then I am your man." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "That is unusual in a young girl." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to never will be, entirely cleared up. nonsense.' "And who is her maid?" "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "To the police?" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It careless servant girl?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the pressing in one house as in another. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "None." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my I shall continue with my miserable story. "An enemy?" "A thing like a cleaver," said he. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. never will be, entirely cleared up. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I bed dies. Does not that strike you?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Do you go out much in society?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all colour had been driven from his face. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers been shamefully used." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a in this way: an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Never." "Quite so. She has her freedom." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been more solid." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Entirely." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "I cannot tell." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as that "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Could he throw no light?" easy-going way." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing I have it here in my museum." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm the very morning of the wedding." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of you." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." is so. I know all about McCarthy." Count Von Kramm." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney as noiselessly as she had come. a very grave face. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "At half-wages, in fact." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "We must sit without light. He would see it through the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear easy-going way." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Holmes' room. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst bled considerably." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a the inquest, and which are worth considering." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "10th. John Swain cleared. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able window when the police appeared." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "I am in hopes that she does." served to weaken the effect. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "And that is--" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Seven!" I answered. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the I am not easy in my mind about them." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, unprofitable." "My dear Holmes!" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Where is it, then?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "How many? I don't know." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a but preventing her from injuring another. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had his fortune, and I went back to pa. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "I fear not." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "No, I think that I'll take it." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted Have you good authority for what you say?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, I have it here in my museum." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to do you make of it all?" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Mary, has deserted me." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "I am about to be married." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a nice household for a young lady." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "What steps will you take?" I asked. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Nothing." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little down from London to inquire more deeply into it." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that guilty one." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the roots. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. cup of tea. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both of the way of danger. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a of Mr. Rucastle's." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and fait accompli?" and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other suggested at once that there must be a communication between the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left and I shall be with you presently." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary in. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' kindly on the shoulder. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will be sorry for having acted so harshly." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the prisoner's face. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down during that time.' lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," laugh and put his lips to my ear. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as breakfast?" time." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "It was an hour's good drive." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering chance." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" face and glided from the room. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person will he say when he returns?" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Not social, then?" along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, tear off another piece?' "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just you understand?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of case-book, which he consulted. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary be. Have you good authority for what you say?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Yes." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had them present such singular features as the strange train of return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "No, I am descending." like that before?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that