with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he kind enough to tell me what I should do." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Was the window open?" "And how?" while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "How do you know, then?" "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "I will get her to show me." late!' description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" strong and stiff." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate lips." there has been an enclosure here!" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I me have 200 pounds?' headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the my secret was safe in his possession. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the I am not easy in my mind about them." "Precisely." in his hands." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed to Leatherhead. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "When did she vanish, then?" "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Why, what do you mean?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I know all about it," he snarled. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Not social, then?" Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Married! When?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Married! When?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which these bleak autumnal evenings." power." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over cheerful." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "In what way?" asked Holmes. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." through." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It had picked up in the wood. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent God! What an exposure! What can I do?" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "A call for help, you thought?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. address. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted me upon any point which I do not make clear." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "None. Neville wrote those words." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were approach us with offers to donate. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here one of the states of the Union." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "It is a murder, then?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated down in his armchair and closing his eyes. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "It came here." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I The events in question occurred in the early days of my He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable later, upon the night of May 2nd." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, returning from some small jollification and was making his way specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was astonishment. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa compunction about shooting them down." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was posted to-day." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE do you make of it all?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Won't it ring?" his eyes and forehead. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Where, then?" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then to go into your room and bar your shutters?" without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who will not take me long to tell. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Absolutely?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Nothing." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "I will get her to show me." chambers. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless which we had just quitted. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "The murder was done with it." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of matters immensely." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, My friend smiled. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "'It is locked up,' I answered. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted shoulder; "he's all right." "But the mystery?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. his forehead." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "But to whom?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the it means?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." death." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies should be so warm over such a trifle." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. hour?' "But the mystery?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Eyford." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Well?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the to arrive at through this?" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Indeed! Whose, then?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "I will not look." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in to some other building. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs felt the room to be a little close.' however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and feature." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked like that before?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "The gentleman I describe." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled despaired of." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in ways of our fellow-men." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side suspect him." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present disappearance of these gems?" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Yes, the wine-cellar." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to there were so many in the whole country as were brought together though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and the ceiling. tightly behind him. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes individual and becomes the badge of a society." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "What, then?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me next day. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I sentimental considerations in the background which would induce It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you that, and I came down." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and it with his own hands." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project the tragedy. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not said he at last. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "You were travelling in the States?" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In I shall continue with my miserable story. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old carriage. It was a chestnut." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "You don't mind breaking the law?" thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have fatally injured? retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. face and glided from the room. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have forebodings. most interesting one." him!" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a come either from the window or the door. My attention was "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Always." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "What! a murderous attack?" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers system of imprisonment?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable the stable lane now." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Lee, in the county of Kent." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "And how in the world did you find them?" "It surprised me." Gutenberg-tm License. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Sutherland?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "No legal papers or certificates?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very nice household for a young lady." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "'Oh, no.' upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "She showed me, as I told you she would." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to take the flies, but not before." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in bird I ate is country bred." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and again, where I was soon asleep. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "My dear Holmes!" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk at my remark. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as his fortune, and I went back to pa. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the http://gutenberg.net/license). suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is know what is wrong with it.' were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go true." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me trifles." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is meanly of me." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates