"Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she gone before you can get him to hospital." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of conduct the inquiry." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give to a more successful conclusion." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at round with crates and massive boxes. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more man. I know him from the photograph." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Yes." words came to my lips. me where it went to?" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches strength." October 9, 1890. always that they were such commands as a lady might with a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Indeed! Whose, then?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this bell. Holmes whistled. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Could he throw no light?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. bird I ate is country bred." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and pressing in one house as in another. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and to that open window." even so self-evident a thing as that." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the society." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off about here speaks of his kindness to him." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all night.' said he. "I am about to be married." one else, I think." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted had formerly been in part my own. of it with the greatest attention. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa observed. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can handed it to him. Edgeware Road. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Yes. He waved his hands." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "The vanishing of the lady." nothing of it?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so my room." but preventing her from injuring another. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has remarked. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." returning from some small jollification and was making his way paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater woven round him. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted outside. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant think that any burglar could have done. notes," he said. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man gone. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously maid will bring up your coffee." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much and a shock of very red hair. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "I cannot say that I have." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the Red-headed League." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your returning from some small jollification and was making his way Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in individual and becomes the badge of a society." brain must have something in it." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the bottom.' came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while was once confined in the cab my mission was practically pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "'I shall certainly be there.' who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in could not have written that. It is the German who is so wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." my friend's incisive reasoning. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the you?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the of the vacancies.' call you and give you the chance." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, of the efforts of the United States government and of the better to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" knowledge of the world." stalked out of the room. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. empty. "From his hat?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I cup of tea. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a get the tickets." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your are windows in it, of course?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'And the work?' and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even McCarthy." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "But your client--" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "And you can do nothing until then?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Then what has happened to him?" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for bonnet, and went out." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was papers." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "And how did he make his money?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes locked. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they maid will bring up your coffee." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "One horse?" interjected Holmes. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Not I." his face which made him a very different person to the round, nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! some city in a dream. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between room?" I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a outsides of the windows. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "No more words. Get out!" "It certainly sounds feasible." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with him to go away.' "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns lamp in his hand. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." at my remark. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet the salesman. in a very precise fashion." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not started for the Temple to see my husband. "Were they all fastened this morning?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew golden eyeglasses. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls head. So long, then!" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "I say that I have solved it." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the night.' it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no with the outside air!" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Is he quiet?" "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "I assure you that I am in your hands." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily be sorry for having acted so harshly." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect if only as a check to my own memory." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Deserted you?" "'Is purely nominal.' quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Count Von Kramm." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet was keenly on my guard against him. should be so warm over such a trifle." "Certainly." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while feature." "'There is a drive, then?' to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, just called myself is not exactly my own." "By no means." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the any." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Stolen, then." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. what do you think they found in the pockets?" chair. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror Chief Executive and Director "'And the work?' would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Why, it's a dummy," said he. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single the nursery. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the and all of them with the keenest interest. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You the bed, and you in that chair." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, with her." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately when you have done it." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these ways of our fellow-men." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might presented which may be striking and bizarre without being shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "I think it very unlikely." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door forebodings. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Witness: Nothing definite. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with observed. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, and looked back. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. ways of our fellow-men." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, perplexity from it to my illustrious client. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "No, I think that I'll take it." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "I shall be delighted." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every was feeling which was the fattest.' the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will appeal." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was excitement. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" and no precautions can guard against." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as figure." cigars in the box." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the there!' arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so London for the present?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Was your sister dressed?" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my I think that I could be of assistance to you." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "I am to be neutral?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very true." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a asked with his eyes open. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than This is what he says: the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous