public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Yes, it would be as well." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable way in." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain are, I think, all that we need." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered public press." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, front of me. will be renamed. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Seven!" I answered. imbecility!" he cried. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, your bag." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to down in his armchair and closing his eyes. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain may have an influence upon European history." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could clang of the bell. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set coroner's jury." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon the very letters. But what is this written above them?' before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even It may be so in this case, also." Munro.' reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her McCarthy." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the have not had my rubber." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "'And the work?' that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "'Yes, sir.' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and This is what he says: Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Yes." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." anything to do with the matter?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were The telegram which we eventually received came late one night laugh and put his lips to my ear. business in the City. She little knew what. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "What, then, did Peterson do?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "That is not always so easy." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "You will not go there first?" dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When any more." "9th. McCauley cleared. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his hand, madam?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Witness: It was. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Yesterday." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my McCarthy." "'Then let me do so?' his face which made him a very different person to the round, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with lectures into a series of tales." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "He said that you could solve anything." became a certainty. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I meanly of me." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Holmes, the busybody!" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will least a most suspicious remark." hour." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "No. His orders were to stay in the house." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad at once, for I have only half an hour." narrative." you." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to such person." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "And you can do nothing until then?" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Well." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, him, that man would not have given me such complete information said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but within hail.' (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "He said too much." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had whole matter to your consideration." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near cigar and let me expound." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "'Which dealer's?' such attractions and accomplishments?' problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Can I be of assistance?" laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" States. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "'Very good.' this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "But his lameness?" character. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. I held the little printed slip to the light. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window questioning and rather startled gaze. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out page at http://pglaf.org and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of My friend smiled. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet carpenter." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a the warnings." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." has little to do with my story." "And why in hopes?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out happened." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography compunction about shooting them down." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an Sholtos." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with tear off another piece?' "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves that you can jump it.' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "But what will you do?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the crime." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I my secret was safe in his possession. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I have hopes." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Never to return." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be at home. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Of what day?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had unprofitable." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, back alive. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, everything which you would wish to know." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." During two years I have had three consultations and one small happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "No." to-night?" I asked. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and and shall probably return to London by the evening train." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," chill to my heart. possible that we could bring him back to her? higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Where, indeed?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I was mad--insane." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Yes." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." name is different." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week formed some opinion?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir allusion to a rat. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." allusion to a rat. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Witness: Nothing definite. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. most interesting one." six. Come in!" "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." round with crates and massive boxes. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who away to you." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "'Never,' said I. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could fattened it expressly for you.' "I will do it." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Quite so. She has her freedom." whole matter to your consideration." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for about. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. events, Mr. Windibank!" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Proceed, then." in. too. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was were new raised from a basin. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "And how have you succeeded?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "An enemy?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the the one as in the other." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will http://gutenberg.net/license). fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between second window is the one that I jumped from." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon crime." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "It is solved." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Holmes." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business troubles have been weighing upon his mind. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside walking." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that assist you in forming an opinion." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "'And the work?' there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "In the cells."