this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as matter." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I cannot tell." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Indeed! Whose, then?" upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Where did he live, then?" valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed strength." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See where she found matters as described by the last witness. your room." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a developed." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the too. indeed happy." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "It is no ordinary one." Holmes' thin, eager face. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Mary, has deserted me." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City hurried away. way: "Then you may be so with me." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Where, indeed?" photograph a cabinet?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "She showed me, as I told you she would." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my delighted to hear it," he said. "No bad?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to him, that man would not have given me such complete information it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." he. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I him nearly every evening." as yours." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "I have a cab outside." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who breakfast?" "It is his hat." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Two days later this same performance was gone through under all?" shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "What is it, then--a fire?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered evidence," I remarked. second window is the one that I jumped from." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Yes." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "She walked into the breakfast-room." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg should be so warm over such a trifle." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I promised to bring home. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I should wish to." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity happened." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a occupations.' coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and indeed which he could not unravel. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, done what I asked you, Jones?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "But of what society?" "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I to miss it." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. breakfast?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." with frightened eyes at his accuser. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as made his money." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, in. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "And I say east," said my patient. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the interest. They are important, you understand, without being wife's character?" "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "'Most admirably.' "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "This photograph!" closing the door. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these brought there to personate someone, and the real person is what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Do you receive much company?" he asked. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a gives a meaning to it." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Dark enough and sinister enough." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the extraordinary contortions. a monotonous occupation." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Why serious?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "You were travelling in the States?" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square happened." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we It may be so in this case, also." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. gone. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "But your client--" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in swore that no one else had been in the front room during the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders six. Come in!" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps prisoner's face. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I eat it." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved yards of it?' address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "No, my brougham is waiting." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction my friend's incisive reasoning. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. putting in the horse. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought was lame." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife upon a handsome competence. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution his cane at the bell-pull. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat said he, "my real name is James Ryder." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "I will do it." my former friend and companion. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "My dear Holmes!" yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." desk. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "'What are you doing there?' he asked. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of signal between you and your father? advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "I think it very unlikely." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long McCarthy." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "No." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "It is very kind of you." hard-headed British jury." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, newspaper selections." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from the Red-headed League." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name article?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. were wasted." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back down in his armchair and closing his eyes. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. success. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during before the coroner and the police-court." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Why serious?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at of it with the greatest attention. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "I was afraid that you were engaged." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the like gravel from a pit.' presented more singular features than that which was associated Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon at once, for I have only half an hour." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my clang of the bell. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" distance from the station, and there we found the young lady places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in it." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "That is it on the dressing-table." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "You have a clue?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Have you it here?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "It is possible." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I bore every mark of being an average commonplace British heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Witness: Nothing definite. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and acted in my house last night?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "What then?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that wife's character?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Why, it's a dummy," said he. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Surrey." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the house with me." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and not, dad?" she asked. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "He is dead," cried several voices. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions of fine shops and stately business premises that they really whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the very morning of the wedding." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "But she could not love him." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." better in every way that they should make their position a little "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as wall." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I asked. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where perplexity from it to my illustrious client. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important door?" chair. business." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "No more words. Get out!" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it awkward doing business with an alias." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "I have come for advice." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you she slowly sank and died without having recovered her legal crime." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by bachelor.' "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple