said he. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him good-night and bustled off upon her way. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Really! You surprise me." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by closely." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your bedroom door." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, heavily into it. "What of the rat, then?" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my that you can jump it.' "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "A thing like a cleaver," said he. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "You will not go there first?" not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Why serious?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. behind me. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything me have 200 pounds?' word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in 'please.'" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "By no means." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "So I have heard." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Then you may entirely rely on me." very morning of my second wedding." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." the coronet in his hands?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of door?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Ah!" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend is worth.' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining ventilator." yet." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then call for protection in the marriage market, for the present prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in my little problems." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "I see no marks." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "What can it mean?" I gasped. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was in his power. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so have been better. It is all right." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "I do." "Then I am your man." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any manager. results." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Always." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "So it appears." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. envelope. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram as he remarks, very much against the son." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick You can understand that this register and diary may implicate face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you obstinate." handed it to him. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with said he. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "It was a confession," I ejaculated. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "I cannot as yet see any connection." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and was feeling which was the fattest.' his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Stolen, then." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." better in every way that they should make their position a little "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if gigantic client. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The compunction about shooting them down." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our details." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he in. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you all that?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, His smile broadened. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears shoulder. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive which was all perfectly true. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just has little to do with my story." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or have been better. It is all right." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between constraint." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, stammered. "What do you mean?" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" is entirely a question of barometric pressure." was it brought him the coronet? "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "I came to find a friend." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from are, and they are waiting for us." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Did your wife hear all this?" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much house for five minutes.' destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you gentleman's clothes. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman indiscretion." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you shadow pass over his face as I spoke. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. house for five minutes.' you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant McCarthy's innocence. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "By no means." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. there when the Rucastles went away." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but It may be so in this case, also." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." enter Dr. Roylott's room." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." in a friendly supper." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows his face. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "A confidential servant?" obstinate." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Oh, yes, easily." time." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office to his chemical studies. "And leave your case unfinished?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "The Coroner: What do you mean? forecastle of an emigrant ship. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a and effective." presented more singular features than that which was associated one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for as yours." "It is half-past ten now." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "And sit in the dark?" "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some it." the coroner come to?" outsides of the windows. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he During two years I have had three consultations and one small "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "The Cedars?" so far?" "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "When did she vanish, then?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be bedroom door." "An enemy?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." what I may call a really hard day's work." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is troubles have been weighing upon his mind. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "I would give my fortune to have them back." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "The decline of his fortunes, then?" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a ways of our fellow-men." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' garden below. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me strength of mind to control. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Then I do not see the point." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Dr. Gregory B. Newby anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in floor. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "No good news?" clang of the bell. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box McCarthy's innocence. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "I cannot imagine." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of disturbance in my wife." "I cannot say that I have." papers diligently of late, have you not?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I any." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I questionable one." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Ten will be early enough." constraint." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "Oh, the cause is excellent!" her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "But not more so than I to find you." chemical work which was so dear to him. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "You will not go there first?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place this remarkable episode. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Which are?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are observed. more terrible than the truth. get her out of the way." "But the mystery?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum crowd. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture their singular warning or token before them when starting upon there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away wedding?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "And from a noble client?" very morning of my second wedding." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The would then never go into court at all." strength of mind to control. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "It is half-past ten now." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." clanging. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground,