and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in unclasping of his long thin hands. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Why did you pick him?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am for its centre. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the own family. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the fattened it expressly for you.' worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Mary, has deserted me." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small presented more singular features than that which was associated Lee, in the county of Kent." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one 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 remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of thin, with a long, sharp nose?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already nights." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "None." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Have you it here?" knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "The gentleman I describe." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up it were putty." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody shall use the carriage to-night." to that open window." congratulate you again." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is suddenly upon us." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." o'clock is it?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to bedroom door." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Yes." "At the wedding breakfast." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "I shall be delighted." hard-headed British jury." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his you came in." on in his house." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Game for a morning drive?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "He said that you could solve anything." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the hands. "Only as much as we can deduce." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the was feeling which was the fattest.' way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "It is very kind of you." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She strength in the others." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates you." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "He slept on the premises." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "We were both in the photograph." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. case-book, which he consulted. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to province." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Pray continue your narrative." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, were new raised from a basin. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to of your young ladies.' "By train from Waterloo." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they details should find their way into the papers. Inspector the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Yes, there are nearly always some there." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of front of me. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "And I say east," said my patient. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his yourselves in at night?" furiously. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were used to be." himself to hunt down. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "We must sit without light. He would see it through the have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double fire. You quite follow me?" at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "What then?" o'clock is it?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think said he. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Then, as to money?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what have not had my rubber." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is License. You must require such a user to return or "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then shoulder. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Entirely." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." when your master had gone out." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Could he throw no light?" For additional contact information: would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely observed. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing giving me time to thank him. "'Certainly not. But why?' gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the entirely lost his self-respect." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, is now desirous of getting those letters back." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project it means?" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, John Swain, of St. Augustine. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet were wasted." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis matter." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "I will do it." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which absorbing." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been on in his house." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Nothing." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, forebodings. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "None." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Well, but China?" My friend smiled. "Your French gold?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father suggested at once that there must be a communication between the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a anything to do with the matter?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has happened." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel will take you up to see the machine.' "10th. John Swain cleared. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right said he at last. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you Where does the thing come from?' the side-table." light and attacked it." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that emerged. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Eyford." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect it means?" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "He disappeared so suddenly." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns suspect him." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the charged with?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the think that he is innocent?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' trifles." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." unprofitable." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the ashen face. "Imitated." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of meant." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand to-night's adventure." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar yards of it?' jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Yes." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" of receipt of the work. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Not yet." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Was the window open?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "So it appears." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life forecastle of an emigrant ship. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was colour had been driven from his face. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful prove to be little relation between the different incidents of eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the upon the sideboard." "Yes, only one." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an cost them two and thirty pounds." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "How did he come?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, 11:15.' "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several manager. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I your sleep?' "What! You do not mean bodies?" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple is acting for the best. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you Where does the thing come from?' ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "It was an hour's good drive." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly bedroom door." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "You think that he is dead?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "It looks newer than the other things?" main points of my analysis." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, and wait." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable upon the shelf for the interim." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Just look it up, then." eavesdroppers?' companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a back to my heart. dramatic, in fact." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "A client, then?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business and the church but not where the lady lived." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. money should be paid at once.' Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. that?' the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. The King stared at him in amazement. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Not him." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Awake, Watson?" he asked. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all means taking possession of that which another person has a prior leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley the general public were present, then?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." But Holmes shook his head gravely. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower leaning back in his chair. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his