never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up away to you." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "What is it, then--a fire?" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for late!' father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. his face. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden geese which you supplied to the Alpha." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "I came to find a friend." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an villagers almost as much as their master. "And now?" I asked. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an had this final quarrel? unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through answer." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what security.' a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in indeed happy." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "'As governess?' the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "I shall most certainly do so." Watson," he said cordially. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain could go. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary the coronet in his hand?" The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. been with you?" Cross for the Continent." the south-west, I see." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "'Yes.' everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" second." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which fluttered off among the others. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, the date of his supposed suicide." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the someone who had been in Australia." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the prisoner's face. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in unprecedented a position." fashion which was peculiar to him. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I mystery." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work breakfast?" Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Was she in good spirits?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Watson," he said cordially. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." you want, then?' very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE an introduction to him?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Very much so." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no questioning and rather startled gaze. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between within hail.' 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the all?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Yes." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to cigars in the box." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the and it need not interfere very much with one's other and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Then what has happened to him?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I cannot tell." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after have one." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened even of instruction." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came crime." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "And who is her maid?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, child?' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. little trying to do so much typewriting?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "At what time?" call it cruel." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "None." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday in this way: has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the I leave." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Can I be of assistance?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "On your arm?" lips." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the room while you explain this matter?" definite end. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the seven miles from Eyford Station.' said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he of campaign. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had I shall continue with my miserable story. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting charge against him will break down." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. think, you have already met." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a tapping his fingers upon the table. London for the present?" copied or distributed: the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "I warn you that they are very incomplete." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, round and wave him away like that.' prepare for the new role I have to play." Miss Holder?" my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant a monotonous occupation." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "His face fell immediately. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. might help us?" you came in." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very mystery." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Just look it up, then." me what he had done with the three missing stones. been deceived." father's place of business?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Do you go out much in society?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Yes." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very mystery." "Absolutely none." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call as noiselessly as she had come. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Was the window open?" rat could hardly pass through." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the these bleak autumnal evenings." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself to change my dress. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Your sister is dead, then?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Yes, that is the Crown." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an children over to America with him, so that I found myself without to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some success. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk you." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Eyford." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, suddenly upon us." burst out into a roar of laughter. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me narrative." back to my heart. "And now?" He raised his hand. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, to-morrow." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking furiously. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "That sounds a little paradoxical." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "My dear Holmes!" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Bought." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'Yes.' your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest sake, don't!" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed strength." despair." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "By no means." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being constraint." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." could go. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the appeared upon the scene." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As as noiselessly as she had come. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. you understand?" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "An accident, I presume?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at who was a member of your goose club." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own shadow pass over his face as I spoke. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. chambers. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "I don't believe it." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. side. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with his grey eyes. "'Oh, no.' happened." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Where does the thing come from?' served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away his fortune, and I went back to pa. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with prove to be little relation between the different incidents of there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I morning." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself annoyance, but no jest. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." invisible to me," I remarked. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. respectable self." lost his Christmas dinner." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, will take you up to see the machine.' contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not on re-entering her father's house?" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his annoyance, but no jest. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Nothing." "And why in hopes?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its the warnings." mystery." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as have established a very serious case against the son of the "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a forbidden door. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, pound a week." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it as he folded up the epistle. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Tell me all about it,' said I. papers must be those that are destroyed.' dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has place no limit on the sum I may draw." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "And sit in the dark?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, McCarthy." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she occurred." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. the very morning of the wedding." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "You have it, sir, just as it happened." fishes. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin not use it unless it is absolutely needed." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should