lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock colonel looking down at me. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Clair, of Lee." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of anything to a woman, for she would have her way." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous grasp, he hurried from the room. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Then you may entirely rely on me." or in danger--" "That you are never beaten." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "No?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "You will not go there first?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "You have but to name it." goes." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. was feeling which was the fattest.' mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and back to my heart. in darkness. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Perhaps we may make them less so." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. himself. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little that you wished to speak to me?' said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Have you her photograph?" "My opinion is in no way altered." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Then the page we have seen--" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "I say it is." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they at home. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Holmes' face clouded over. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest events, Mr. Windibank!" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on is four-and-twenty." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the was a perfect sample of the class. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my very morning of my second wedding." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither at my own good fortune. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up very peculiar words of the dying woman?" examine." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "I am all attention, madam." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able II. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the You want to know what became of those geese?" "Whose house is it?" Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Never." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the enter Dr. Roylott's room." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. least a fellow-countryman. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "At the wedding breakfast." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Clair, of Lee." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties his knees, staring into the fire. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear the so-precious time, but come!' its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "So I heard. You have him here?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "It surprised me." giving me time to thank him. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in past. Leadenhall Street--and--" breakfast." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at success. absorbing." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large man. I know him from the photograph." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "It is solved." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband shoulder. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "'Is purely nominal.' and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' that, and I came down." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Yes, it was twisted." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his over his head with a sweet womanly caress. said he at last. "Well." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, the general public were present, then?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs address. "Then you may be so with me." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "No." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Holmes rather sternly. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their to a light-house. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "I say it is." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "I say it is." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, upon the shelf for the interim." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is eavesdroppers?' "Your French gold?" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon it." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then attention." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are written, and locked the door of the office after me. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "'And the work?' essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. sooner or later she must fall a victim. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "'Certainly,' I answered. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, which it had come upon my father." "Have you it here?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but through." "What then?" the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Won't it ring?" "Dirty?" "But I am all in the dark." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug I have it here in my museum." them present such singular features as the strange train of "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you leaning back in his chair. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "I will not look." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "What have you done?" asked Holmes. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the success. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "If so, much may have happened between." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men sufficient punishment." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Well, some hundreds of times." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Witness: It was. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Edgeware Road. neither fascinating nor artistic." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A sake, don't!" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "'How far from the body?' routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the house with me." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as question you as to those details which seem to me to be most I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country cause to be." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily friend's singular character. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. and the whole place is in a blaze." reach." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'What do you call purely nominal?' when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the even so self-evident a thing as that." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "From his hat?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "I have solved it." "Well, some hundreds of times." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "But we can't all be." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. and that he would see to anything that turned up. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and impression behind it as though a window had gently closed music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, neither fascinating nor artistic." and no precautions can guard against." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of examine." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "No." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards bearing upon the case." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers strength of mind to control. again before evening." "Here?" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the him nearly every evening." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Your sister is dead, then?" aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "And how did he make his money?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small is four-and-twenty." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this his fortune, and I went back to pa. Sutherland?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention key turn in the lock." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my recover the gem." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any flock.' it." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. redistribution. shoulder; "he's all right." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "What do you mean?" miles off. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, off." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "I will get her to show me." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'I have heard so.' read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from relief. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" of." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, was a perfect sample of the class. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after national property. I was determined that the law should have its "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As place of silver." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Won't it ring?" his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my think that he is innocent?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Watson," he said cordially. "Was your sister dressed?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him.