which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "And your mother is alive?" your Highness to the police-station?" "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his or in danger--" be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "How do you know, then?" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" father's young wife. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "No." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "So I am. Very much so." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you morning." "No. What a strange idea!" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Oh, fresh and glossy." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the coronet in his hands?" "No." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version chambers. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, be there in time for your coming." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "What will you say?" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." of it with the greatest attention. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a gbnewby@pglaf.org roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly do.' of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door that you wished to speak to me?' he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed during that time.' "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "And the cigar-holder?" "I will do it." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With James Windibank. Voilà tout!" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." at home. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "But you have hopes?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. words came to my lips. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "I saw her in conversation with her maid." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest troubles have been weighing upon his mind. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "'Then let me do so?' no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman 1.E.9. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up pictures, libraries, or plate. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face said he. "Witness: Nothing definite. sneer upon his pale face. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. danger is over." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. have I gained?" this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face already been minutely examined." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, present." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, eavesdroppers?' begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Witness: Nothing definite. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation had died away into the silence from which it rose. back to my heart. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Dr. Becher's." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is been anything against him. He had for years been known as a every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "A call for help, you thought?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" speckled band?" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess himself. Count Von Kramm." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, shoulder; "he's all right." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE burst out into a roar of laughter. annoyance, but no jest. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's all?" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "I am in hopes that she does." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, and glanced through. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "If I can be of use." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those which our visitor detailed to us. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as late." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Game for a morning drive?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Nothing?" suddenly upon us." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I rose-bushes. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly hurried away. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the his eyes and forehead. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "What will you say?" matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in strode off upon his way. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." for the market.' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the when you have done it." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to II. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. second." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back stalked out of the room. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when main points of my analysis." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I know all about it," he snarled. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** some city in a dream. said I. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from late." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such must be when I saw the door open.' They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "But what is it you wish?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. directly by questioning you." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done you want, then?' income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, call the police, let the police find what they can.' 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb 'I should be able to look after that for you.' exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy becomes even more simple." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black a few minutes he said that it would be all right. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled good for you to do.' she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the fasten all the windows?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "To an end?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the cup of tea. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." business matters.' VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was him, that man would not have given me such complete information you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Holmes." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the bill, which interests me deeply." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar laugh and put his lips to my ear. lamp. humiliation." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Serpentine Avenue. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the criminal. We have already had experience of such." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "What do you mean?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of chance at all." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for man. I know him from the photograph." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no without success. At last the little money which I had saved began it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found all-comprehensive glances. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in we went to search for him, face downward in a little accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the joking. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard someone who had been in Australia." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Yes, all." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. to some other building. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no I approached. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's at my remark. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not gives a meaning to it." "Why did you beat the pavement?" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the best detective that ever lived. "'You cannot say what it was?' A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to business." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "But how will you look?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa was not a bird to be seen there. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was that he will be back before evening." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "And the murderer?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, direction." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I chance." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "On the contrary, this is the right side." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. in one or two places in England?' cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the really the only notable feature about the thing." be there in time for your coming." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch anything to do with the matter?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he into the bag, and made for the door. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter people in all walks of life. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few