deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good formed some opinion?" "Proceed, then." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "But you were on a friendly footing?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Doctor, of the paper and the date." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "'There is a drive, then?' "I am in hopes that she does." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." gentleman's clothes. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a a room. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every fait accompli?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, his cane at the bell-pull. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility friend's singular character. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "What do you mean?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again noble correspondent could be. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Frequently." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." thin legs towards the fire. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab bearing upon the case." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love photograph?" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed hardly wander." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make lamp. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Nothing." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my be sorry for having acted so harshly." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester towards the blaze. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. at my own good fortune. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "It was." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a as yours." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the for and were ordered to this address. she to prove their authenticity?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, mysterious end." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really exactly what you advise." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose be.' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" himself in a perplexing position. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I do." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Certainly." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them photograph?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are hard-headed British jury." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. more terrible than the truth. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Precisely." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had again before evening." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Yes, I have one waiting." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "And I say east," said my patient. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was will take you up to see the machine.' events than those which have happened in my own family." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "Yes, they were peculiar boots." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove and a shock of very red hair. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "'What, the red-headed man?' brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he himself in a perplexing position. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who people in all walks of life. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all written. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. wall." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the yet." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "When did it break out?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce fatally injured? clanging. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing test if we have an answer to our advertisement." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across a suggestive one." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too speckled band?" pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the such attractions and accomplishments?' of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more them?" open." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the have one." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." compunction about shooting them down." plantation.' note?" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "And I say east," said my patient. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, followed. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the I held the little printed slip to the light. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. orange pips. despair." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "And I say east," said my patient. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "How do you know, then?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were all-comprehensive glances. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal it." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "No legal papers or certificates?" me where it went to?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Ample." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in here." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in mysterious end." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but His smile broadened. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "And from a noble client?" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt and a shock of very red hair. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful where Mr. Fordham shows you.' rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." shaken than I had ever seen him. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at fled together." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "'There is a drive, then?' latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "My opinion is in no way altered." entirely lost his self-respect." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "And what did you see?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the in the hope of finding them." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Were they all fastened this morning?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the the tragedy. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Well." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Yes." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." it. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't been able to understand it, in a very few words. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from sake, don't!" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction is acting for the best. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and man. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. know all about it," he snarled. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Pray tell us what has happened to you." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit way in." "What will you do, then?" records." "Not particularly." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "'Very good.' How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, open." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of yet." "How are you getting on?" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Bought." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last late!' be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering not use it unless it is absolutely needed." undoubtedly my uncle's." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "But you were on a friendly footing?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Lee, in the county of Kent." invisible to me," I remarked. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is long narrative. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, eat it." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips crowd. words came to my lips. "Why? What do you mean?" has little to do with my story." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "That is not always so easy." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about other lovers by making love himself." that he has suffered." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "We have tried and failed." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." down. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which