was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is be. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Could he throw no light?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his It may be so in this case, also." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." all that?" either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "And your father? Did you tell him?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good business." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it think you a quite exceptional woman." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and her also." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was of them has the shutters up.' at my own good fortune. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." have one." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, should be so warm over such a trifle." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as distinguish the words: "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can written, and locked the door of the office after me. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting before the coroner and the police-court." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. But Holmes shook his head gravely. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person outbreak?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of think, you have already met." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "No, I am descending." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the suddenly upon us." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The deduce something from that?" "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'What are you doing there?' he asked. me where it went to?" not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for for the market.' his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious examine." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the to take care of herself." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "I saw her in conversation with her maid." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, have not had my rubber." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Why did you pick him?" drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, in darkness. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "And on what day did he meet his death?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her fluttered off among the others. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Here?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' do you make of it all?" cause to be." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest thin, with a long, sharp nose?" effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "It is true that I have been generally successful." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out humiliation." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton me, and I could not think that his explanation of the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Witness: Nothing definite. nights." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at information in his hands the value of which he did not himself swore that no one else had been in the front room during the annoyance, but no jest. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Pray do so." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one looking up at the numbers of the houses." derbies." "No legal papers or certificates?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry keep the flames under. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I cannot as yet see any connection." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a wife's character?" go back?" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at asked. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free with frightened eyes at his accuser. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we window when the police appeared." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Yes, from Horsham." he died? to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "What of the rat, then?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I shall be delighted." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "No." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. in this note: as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. salesman. "No." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the to a more successful conclusion." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, congratulate you again." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "And Irene Adler?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." him, that man would not have given me such complete information walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and go--none." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are highroad, where all traces were lost. already been minutely examined." Clair, of Lee." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "I cannot as yet see any connection." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "What have you done?" asked Holmes. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, the driver. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "What of the rat, then?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Absolutely none." "Why did you beat the pavement?" "How did that help you?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "It is possible." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both with frightened eyes at his accuser. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a derbies." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his death." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I during which he might have communicated with his friend the paper in the air. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. murdered man." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I cannot think." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, locked. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "That is it on the dressing-table." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, assist you in forming an opinion." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Yes, the wine-cellar." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Yes." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these chance at all." one else, I think." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt James Windibank. Voilà tout!" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "The doctor?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "I do." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice during which he might have communicated with his friend the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "What of the rat, then?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Tired-looking or fresh?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "No." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, said Mr. Holder. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis served to weaken the effect. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Has he come with you to-night?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his forbidden door. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I have my revolver," said I. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If people don't know." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the death." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis bore every mark of being an average commonplace British confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this nice household for a young lady." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular over here." himself. to affect your life." "Here?" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "No?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. these bleak autumnal evenings." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Then I can wait in the next room." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." three fields round his house, and there he would take his could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Did he not advertise?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open again on its way. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' salesman. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "I am in hopes that she does." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." the salesman. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked companion quietly. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence existence." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped I held the little printed slip to the light. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? sit on the left-hand side of the driver." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "'Very good.' endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "My Mary? Impossible!" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "That's no good." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "No, my brougham is waiting." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two