"I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself of fine shops and stately business premises that they really collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." before the coroner and the police-court." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in at a side door. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "'Ample.' lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would particular state visit http://pglaf.org man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Awake, Watson?" he asked. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while several quiet little villages up there." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Yes." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "I am sure." better grown goose." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from galvanised. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Yes." "It is no ordinary one." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Street. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Deserted you?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known II. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of the little opening for the ventilator is." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the his face which made him a very different person to the round, parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a that there was nothing in it, after all." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since everything which you would wish to know." one's self under obligations.' James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very straighten it?" redistribution. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "How about poison?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless power." charged with?" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "A greater distance to travel." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the criminal. We have already had experience of such." outside. golden eyeglasses. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never case-book, which he consulted. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." tear off another piece?' "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed way in." "Were they all fastened this morning?" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Leave Paddington by the 11:15." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "I see no marks." the address that was given us in the advertisement. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will at home. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Did you observe the colour?" Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if make me his representative both with the servants and with the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would if I call to-morrow?" "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Then I shall certainly come." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." is now desirous of getting those letters back." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad his eyes and forehead. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the up this clue while it is still hot." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a amused." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps American. Then who could this American be, and why should he there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his again before evening." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "I am in hopes that she does." desk. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank without success. At last the little money which I had saved began definite end. coroner's jury." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "I promise," said Holmes. success. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our writer." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "You are all wrong." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." stepfather?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in not come at once?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of desk. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us strength of mind to control. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in as he folded up the epistle. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. village inn over there?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity His smile broadened. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a that I am arrested." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on conversation I have gathered that they have been married about she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a would apply.' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "No." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "None." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "No sign of it?" upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your guilty one." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "I have my revolver," said I. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you you for a few hours?" penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might in the port of London." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Witness: Nothing definite. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view you understand?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly face and glided from the room. "An enemy?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Yes." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Leadenhall Street--and--" arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Never." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had your billet.' air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "But she will refuse." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I jewels which you have stolen?' "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Look there!" said he. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and The events in question occurred in the early days of my but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "But of what society?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the cheerful." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible trifles." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the clanging. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and go from here to the Strand." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "But we can't all be." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain 1.F. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "The gentleman I describe." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "I don't say that. Perhaps." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him opportunities to fix the problem. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my all?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. himself to tell his story. was a lad." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with test if we have an answer to our advertisement." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Yes?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his fat-encircled eyes. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the devil!" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "It must be recovered." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Then, as to money?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my voice, changing her seat as requested. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, could gather together that I was able to avert another public opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Never." quite distinctive." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Why did you pick him?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "You are all wrong." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "'What do you call purely nominal?' delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "I cannot say that I have." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Eyford at 11:15.' "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." What do you deduce from it?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'Yes, I promise.' here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "I know where it is." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," trying to your nerves." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. stood on the top of it. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" maiden herself was most instructive." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Breckinridge is his name." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better a very grave face. "It is his hat." carpenter." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the residence of the great financier. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their footfalls from the street. voice, changing her seat as requested. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed them present such singular features as the strange train of "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered thirty. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "What can it mean?" I gasped. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" footfalls from the street. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of London for the present?" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "'And what are they worth?' I asked. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet any more." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to the running down." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. bonnet, and went out." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "How did that help you?" "That is possible." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by charge against him will break down." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "You horrify me." "I am armed." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open hour." you understand?" heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call you." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "I know where it is." the best of training." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to tell me that you intended to go into harness." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a recover the gem." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and we went to search for him, face downward in a little ran thus: exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, not come at once?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went tightly behind him. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their the room while you explain this matter?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I October 9, 1890. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in enter Dr. Roylott's room." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right man. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. dead, shall be safe with us." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner you?" locked. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the My friend smiled. one else, I think." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. to Leatherhead. "'Is purely nominal.' mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with