regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some fluttered off among the others. four million human beings all jostling each other within the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." will he say when he returns?" to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "And why?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout his huge brown hands. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was conversation I have gathered that they have been married about bill, which interests me deeply." stammered. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of said he. as he remarks, very much against the son." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into neither fascinating nor artistic." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical felt the room to be a little close.' wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that had this final quarrel? I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our outside. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' arrangements." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the to-night?' will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself interest. They are important, you understand, without being next day. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old a few minutes he said that it would be all right. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had minor matters until to-morrow." out." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." never will be, entirely cleared up. sneer upon his pale face. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, woman." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband again, where I was soon asleep. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we occupations.' Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Always." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever go back?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Was your sister dressed?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the them present such singular features as the strange train of rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is think that any burglar could have done. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "'I shall certainly be there.' had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said License. You must require such a user to return or the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous me. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." delirious. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." strode off upon his way. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and looked back. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a throat." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else know that the truth is known." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Game for a morning drive?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders there were so many in the whole country as were brought together upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Because he was handy and would come cheap." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I tell him that I know him to be innocent." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the disturbance in my wife." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Doctor, of the paper and the date." once more. "My own seal." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as been deceived." mystery!" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I am to be neutral?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "And your mother is alive?" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of ordinary clothes on?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went what these perils are?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander yet." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "That is possible." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Heh?' thin, with a long, sharp nose?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the investigation." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from developed." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I security.' at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies imbecility!" he cried. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "You have carte blanche." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "I have my revolver," said I. "Where, indeed?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the friend's singular character. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of questioning and rather startled gaze. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, quite distinctive." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would said Mr. Holder. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old excitement. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. You want to know what became of those geese?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are means taking possession of that which another person has a prior considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "10th. John Swain cleared. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond what is your own theory as to what took place?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "And now?" He raised his hand. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with that I am arrested." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "That sounds a little paradoxical." pressing in one house as in another. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, him!" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "How often?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Pray do so." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell bare slabs of marble. "What will you do, then?" it. new duties?' would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "'Yes, sir.' man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have it? Did I buy the geese off you?" thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "My stepfather's business papers." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I tell me that you intended to go into harness." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "What then?" attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were what do you think they found in the pockets?" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible forbidden door. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "In answer to an advertisement." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE as yours." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are ways of our fellow-men." "Nearly eleven." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She will he say when he returns?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so Holmes." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which recover the gem." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It second." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "And you thought he was pulled back?" if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I than was visible to me." it with his own hands." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "'Never.' "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Clair, of Lee." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by see a sister of mine apply for." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a go--none." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them of your young ladies.' "She told me to ask you." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy charge against him will break down." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "You horrify me!" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Then what has happened to him?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, breakfast." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange answered with a sidelong glance. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith the child." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an I nodded again. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "'You cannot say what it was?' recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "It missed him, then?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Her father is very rich?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had place no limit on the sum I may draw." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to Where does the thing come from?' "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want have been better. It is all right." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with to-night?' "What is it, then--a fire?" fishes. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "It is very kind of you." "He slept on the premises." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Did he not advertise?" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached upon the white wrist. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. undoubtedly my uncle's." awkward doing business with an alias." is worth.' stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He them?" their singular warning or token before them when starting upon if only as a check to my own memory." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending more solid." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant call it cruel." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away miles off. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Look there!" said he. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the fattened it expressly for you.' "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Holmes." "Yes." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I works. See paragraph 1.E below. "But you have hopes?" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your all that?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "What is it?" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their goes." "Where is it, then?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "I cannot tell." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the any." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "A thing like a cleaver," said he. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty province." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "I have my revolver," said I. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your be sorry for having acted so harshly." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a foot. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search