"And leave your case unfinished?" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" wedding?" tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, the King without delay." During two years I have had three consultations and one small grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. became a certainty. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Was the window open?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was your own bird, so if you wish--" there is a decided draught." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the residence of the great financier. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said bare slabs of marble. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the entirely lost his self-respect." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to hereditary King of Bohemia." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just plantation.' had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of people don't know." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "None. Neville wrote those words." dear old homesteads?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord south, for the country is more deserted there." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** seven miles from Eyford Station.' lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a seen the man in the road." morning." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." mystery." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," to tell." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." hand, madam?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right was keenly on my guard against him. "This photograph!" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, do you make of it all?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as will take you up to see the machine.' paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons too. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped friends, not even his own brother. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue gives a meaning to it." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Mary, has deserted me." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. stood on the top of it. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I round with crates and massive boxes. "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no to you." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my works. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City fashion which was peculiar to him. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "And is that all?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was points to suicide?" "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Cross for the Continent." "So it appears." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "It is very clear." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "'Certainly not. But why?' against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "The doctor?" I have it here in my museum." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Yes, all." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name his grey eyes. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Yes." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the back to my heart. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "To the police?" you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it dates and names. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "And leave your case unfinished?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Lee, in the county of Kent." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the straightened it out again. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that behind me. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle late!' "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course upon the shelf for the interim." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. fatally injured? concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place here." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a away in different directions, and I went off to make my own change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into written. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door cigars in the box." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' peculiar to him. should be taken.' Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me I was concerned in it." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both horse could go." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Come in!" said Holmes. I was concerned in it." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "To ruin me." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "And help." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing started for the Temple to see my husband. "None." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "And why?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who returning from some small jollification and was making his way have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Why? What do you mean?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "I am about to be married." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "And now?" I asked. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Of Friday, June 19th." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "None." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," tear off another piece?' "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. memory. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, lost nothing by them." "And help." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the persecution?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "By no means." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were indeed happy." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "I am still in the dark." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "I am still in the dark." from the brougham. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client him, that man would not have given me such complete information may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is to tell." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "You know me, then?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Dr. Becher's." appeared upon the scene." arrangements." joking. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret I shall continue with my miserable story. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is disappearance of the bride.'" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "How about poison?" police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Was there a secret marriage?" amused." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." speckled band?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his question. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Certainly." it." suspect him." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "We must sit without light. He would see it through the considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon our word." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very not come at once?" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to address. amused." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I of a light. morning." indeed happy." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. dear old homesteads?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I should like to see him very much." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "'It is locked up,' I answered. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "You did not overhear what they said?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Precisely." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a said he. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and of them has the shutters up.' Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure amused." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it frequently gained my first real insight into the character of would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "The decline of his fortunes, then?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "How many? I don't know." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you gone. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his narrative." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon not use it unless it is absolutely needed." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Yes." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no weary and pale-looking. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "But I have heard all that you have heard." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" when you have done it." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "You are all wrong." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance of Mr. Rucastle's." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began hopeless attempt at recovering them." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. late!' be sorry for having acted so harshly." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened