step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I in the dead of the night?' "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste said he at last. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his in my life." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the place of silver." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," and the church but not where the lady lived." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "But what is it you wish?" seen the man in the road." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce It may be so in this case, also." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the Assizes." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need to that open window." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Dark enough and sinister enough." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." tapping his fingers upon the table. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Breckinridge is his name." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Very murderous indeed." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "And now?" I asked. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I him and tried to hold him back. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main to arrive at through this?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "The landlord of the Alpha." was it brought him the coronet? "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "That you are never beaten." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "On the contrary, this is the right side." "No." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "'About the same.' more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some success. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Tired-looking or fresh?" to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." peculiar to him. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are of Mr. Rucastle's." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. business in the City. She little knew what. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss into her hand at the door and which lured her within their distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Texas, I think." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours through." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in you." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on my secret was safe in his possession. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "I cannot tell." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "And now?" He raised his hand. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would retorted upon me, and I on you." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I there in twenty minutes." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" felt the room to be a little close.' only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Yes, at the mines." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the affection." which it had come upon my father." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had It may be so in this case, also." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something morning." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Never." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "'You cannot say what it was?' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward individual and becomes the badge of a society." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Thank you. And your address?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with power." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "He is dead," cried several voices. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it advice." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "No, but the enclosure is." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Perfectly so." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my have not had my rubber." "But I am all in the dark." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "It is possible." lips." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this walking." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the had a long day." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "You heard nothing yourself last night?" death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not been." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "You have it, sir, just as it happened." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "My dear Holmes!" "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without you?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. "On the contrary, this is the right side." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring closing the door. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Pray let us have it, for all that." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "I never have." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. bonnet, and went out." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. that threaten you." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, It may be so in this case, also." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Edgeware Road. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of once more on the important position which you have been fortunate was it brought him the coronet? matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps me upon any point which I do not make clear." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I with the outside air!" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no a few minutes he said that it would be all right. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs 'please.'" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, to arrive at through this?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very problems help me to do so." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "I am all attention, madam." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "No." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Nothing." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I trying to your nerves." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Does that suggest anything?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Will you bet, then?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of father's young wife. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily and a shock of very red hair. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the Countess of Morcar's?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught round and wave him away like that.' "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." few hundred pounds.' One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that to-night's adventure." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you fish-monger and a tide-waiter." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to clang of the bell. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "And on what day did he meet his death?" if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "How did that help you?" "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of was a loud and authoritative tap. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "I warn you that they are very incomplete." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached and no precautions can guard against." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Certainly." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "How did that help you?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester you do it in twenty minutes!' is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "About a month then." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "How did that help you?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a out of this horrible affair." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few might have a private word with us. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. During two years I have had three consultations and one small is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "None." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Look there!" said he. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious the stable lane now." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons business matters.' Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Oh, yes, easily." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" that he will be back before evening." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a was the fact that his father should, according to his account, becomes even more simple." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "9th. McCauley cleared. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his dead, shall be safe with us." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "How can you tell that?" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "It is possible." shoulder; "he's all right." key turn in the lock." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." your billet.' "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black not use it unless it is absolutely needed." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and it." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "But how?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with