"I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "It is possible." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know served to weaken the effect. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "No bad?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. future lives." tear off another piece?' answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to my friend's incisive reasoning. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out it." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "To the police?" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Ha! you find it so?" step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "And how did you verify them?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "We have tried and failed." clang of the bell. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this minor matters until to-morrow." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped of note-paper. It read in this fashion: which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End tied." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle http://www.gutenberg.net "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the were wasted." him, that man would not have given me such complete information it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His works. See paragraph 1.E below. again." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical retorted upon me, and I on you." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an weary and pale-looking. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to will not take me long to tell. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "This photograph!" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all digesting their breakfasts at home." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There to have that photograph." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "What I expected to see." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. dates and names. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' details should find their way into the papers. Inspector For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" conduct the inquiry." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I details should find their way into the papers. Inspector words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. very morning of my second wedding." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Pope's Court. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in case-book, which he consulted. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been obstinate." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "And is that all?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we better in every way that they should make their position a little conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The which it had come upon my father." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and the side-table." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "I should be immensely obliged to you." "'Very good.' as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "'What do you call purely nominal?' "To ruin me." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a everything which you would wish to know." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Absolutely none." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands married her." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been room?" Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the results." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Absolutely?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk unclasping of his long thin hands. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the keep the flames under. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind the iron safe, which he closed upon it. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has to where he stood hid behind the curtain. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "He might." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Yes." Arthur Conan Doyle would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning had this final quarrel? computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by ceremony." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "'Most admirably.' cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'A dozen yards or so.' glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "So I have heard." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." cost them two and thirty pounds." foot. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "'Quite sure, dad.' my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "ARAT," I read. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "10th. John Swain cleared. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, to-morrow." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of house for five minutes.' greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. shall not find me ungrateful." with some details as to your case." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "No." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us existence." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my and put his glass in his pocket. companion. Lee, in the county of Kent." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Holmes' face clouded over. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "By no means." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Why did you pick him?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his the King without delay." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in said he. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a little adventures." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At very peculiar words of the dying woman?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this again, where I was soon asleep. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name his fortune, and I went back to pa. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon be there in time for your coming." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Does that suggest anything?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Ah!" how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'Never.' assist you in forming an opinion." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "To the police?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for she slowly sank and died without having recovered her train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "So I heard. You have him here?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes and wait." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally Arthur Conan Doyle already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a results." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "A confidential servant?" letters?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That business came to an end." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Yes, but only for you and me." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very in one or two places in England?' "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom populous neighbourhood." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the electronic works the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's hour?' "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any acquaintance?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which brandy and water within his reach. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "The landlord of the Alpha." it." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Stoke Moran?" said he. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever them?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "My last client of the sort was a king." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "'Most admirably.' and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Mrs. Toller serenely. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to made him keep the appointment." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact ordinary clothes on?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the before, for it was considerably after midnight. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "I never have." started for the Temple to see my husband. miles off. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Did your wife hear all this?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Not particularly." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "By train from Waterloo." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us useful material for showing traces. The double line a little sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Very. But will he see it?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'Ample.' object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And feature." Arthur Conan Doyle crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the wedding?" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him article?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "'Is 4 pounds a week.' squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so indeed happy." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under of your young ladies.' "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into him to go away.' companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Eyford at 11:15.' like gravel from a pit.' all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to husband's writing, madam." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better