which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the words came to my lips. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it records." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "The vanishing of the lady." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Pray let us have it, for all that." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same spark where all is dark to me." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Certainly." 1.E.9. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that a very grave face. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "In the cells." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending and no precautions can guard against." "Absolutely?" who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Street. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your detective. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Holmes' thin, eager face. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "When did it break out?" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "How are you getting on?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his sentimental considerations in the background which would induce called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Of what?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "I am about to be married." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Dr. Becher's." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you directly by questioning you." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the from you?" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for detective. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding have one." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "And who is her maid?" his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual was used.' your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Nothing." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate excitement. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these friends, not even his own brother. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this a room. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" of receipt of the work. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that Doctor, of the paper and the date." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "And you thought he was pulled back?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and very old mansion. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put that threaten you." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the nonsense.' blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "But it has twice been burgled." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "I cannot as yet see any connection." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler spare." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "But what is it you wish?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Project Gutenberg-tm works. figure." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, leaning back in his chair. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my I nodded to show that I had heard. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, of the vacancies.' introspective fashion. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself roused himself from his reverie. "If so, much may have happened between." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this affair. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "It is solved." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "He disappeared so suddenly." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a results." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "At what time?" side. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there of fine shops and stately business premises that they really January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Yes." Surrey." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" before the coroner and the police-court." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE whether it answered to the description of any of their bird I ate is country bred." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of weighed down with some great anxiety. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was little adventures." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Which surely he restored to their owner?" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. was it brought him the coronet? which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "And who is her maid?" bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray face and glided from the room. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "But how did you gain them?" "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." amused." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our I. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "'What are you doing there?' he asked. secret." the window, rose as we entered. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "It is very clear." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." definite end. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Yes, certainly." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely your co-operation." Eyford at 11:15.' street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler retorted upon me, and I on you." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was felt the room to be a little close.' How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Get out!" said he. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our think that he is innocent?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and out." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "The best possible." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible tear off another piece?' "In answer to an advertisement." "It is very kind of you." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "But we can't all be." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a you want, then?' "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will to-night's adventure." leave you to your papers for a little." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. furiously. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Come in!" said he. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any papers." mysterious end." "Precisely." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years better in every way that they should make their position a little better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "One of the highest in England." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the head. So long, then!" arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when seen the man in the road." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said awkward doing business with an alias." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three point in the dark hollow of his hand. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew roused himself from his reverie. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Perhaps we may make them less so." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, despair." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too overpowering excitement and concern. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "That is it on the dressing-table." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about trifles." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter until night should bring an explanation. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading charge against him will break down." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Certainly." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "And your father? Did you tell him?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always over his head with a sweet womanly caress. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Who by?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very roused himself from his reverie. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a