said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait particular state visit http://pglaf.org We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "'It is locked up,' I answered. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Did you observe the colour?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you mystery!" London for the present?" "How about poison?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned that threaten you." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "They are typewritten," I remarked. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of these bleak autumnal evenings." companion quietly. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who families. Now for the facts. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I enter into my head. Where does the thing come from?' a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the official police." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside appeared upon the scene." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own which we had just quitted. drawing your inferences." following enigmatical notices: page at http://pglaf.org words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which During two years I have had three consultations and one small to that open window." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Precisely so. But how--" leave you to your papers for a little." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." been able to understand it, in a very few words. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another disappearance of the bride.'" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "But he might be a bachelor." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called it means?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a and the whole place is in a blaze." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch begun to whiten, even as mine has." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "And how in the world did you find them?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his directly by questioning you." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "She told me to ask you." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his who was a member of your goose club." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Thank you. And your address?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Only as much as we can deduce." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "And you thought he was pulled back?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing prison!" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I detective. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "You have the photograph?" the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can was already answered. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." papers diligently of late, have you not?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a unkempt, staring out at me. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish derbies." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "It is possible." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have heavy and sharp instrument." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it IS gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate empty. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "In San Francisco, a year ago." the nursery. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they for securing the situation." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "'In my own bureau.' suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the hopeless attempt at recovering them." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That the bottom.' have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, bird I ate is country bred." "Then, how do you know?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Where did you address your letters, then?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his read over the extraordinary announcement. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a clanging. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me father's young wife. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to affair. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California take the flies, but not before." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which it were putty." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Your sister is dead, then?" was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the ourselves in the office." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Yes. He waved his hands." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and goes." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. notes," he said. it." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." did not hear it also.' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief Have you good authority for what you say?" papers." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Did your wife hear all this?" works. one else, I think." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is the tragedy. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the direction." "'And the work?' "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common nothing with him." daring than any effort of the imagination." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain answered with a sidelong glance. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, of it with the greatest attention. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "I should be immensely obliged to you." whatever might befall. at my remark. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help never will be, entirely cleared up. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go these bleak autumnal evenings." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." telegram would bring me down to your help." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a business at Coburg Square is serious." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Precisely so. But how--" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured answered with a sidelong glance. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the 1.E.9. you in yours." ashen face. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have relief. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Certainly." to tell." so.' right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "But how?" "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of it were putty." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "BALLARAT." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three made his money." already been minutely examined." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing at once, for I have only half an hour." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "But what will you do?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "'You cannot say what it was?' head. So long, then!" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he that I may have something better before very many minutes are would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Do you know him?" it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation was shining brightly. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater that you can jump it.' "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "I see many objections to any such theory." during that time.' it." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled had died away into the silence from which it rose. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." for and were ordered to this address. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly was keenly on my guard against him. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "To an end?" lost his Christmas dinner." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William comes from the middle window." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as been with you?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold gigantic client. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would drove away. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. strong and stiff." four million human beings all jostling each other within the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Holmes' room. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from pictures, libraries, or plate. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, out." may have an influence upon European history." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and