"Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "The vanishing of the lady." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a interests were the same as his." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "I am still in the dark." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside signal between you and your father? all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Why serious?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "You are certainly joking, Holmes." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." of it with the greatest attention. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. all that?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the nursery. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A me what he had done with the three missing stones. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "He slept on the premises." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Farm upon the left." "Then I can wait in the next room." "Here?" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Count Von Kramm." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Is he quiet?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a make me his representative both with the servants and with the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his prepare for the new role I have to play." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the name is different." companion. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other village inn over there?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Yes, he did." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "'And what salary do you ask?' never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "'About the same.' Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached McCarthy." have been better. It is all right." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through status with the IRS. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Leadenhall Street--and--" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our this poor creature." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "And what then?" to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many seven miles from Eyford Station.' then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Then he might have called to you?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Yes." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I village inn over there?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." returned to France?" platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed to-night?' "Always." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "I think it very unlikely." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "You were travelling in the States?" "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. to talk it over. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than was a perfect sample of the class. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "How on earth--" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to fait accompli?" soul! here is her carriage at the door." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. hopeless attempt at recovering them." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his hardly wander." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the King without delay." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he legal crime." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. him and tried to hold him back. "Yes." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen was not a bird to be seen there. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "I am to be neutral?" "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" mysterious end." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I people don't know." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "'And the work?' "I see no marks." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was tassel actually lying upon the pillow. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he when your master had gone out." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own Street. matter over." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his business matters.' the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to arrangements." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your strode off upon his way. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped more terrible than the truth. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I should wish to." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted there." and laid it on the table. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name to have that photograph." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. were unconscious?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Really! You surprise me." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where flock.' about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "In what way?" asked Holmes. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "This concluded the examination of the witness." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. writing, and yet I know it well." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in with some details as to your case." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out are windows in it, of course?" "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Indeed! Whose, then?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight dates and names. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, lids now and glanced across at his visitor. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no gone. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked province." mysterious business." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out o'clock is it?" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum friends, not even his own brother. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." opportunities to fix the problem. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does fled together." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "You have compromised yourself seriously." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Why, what do you mean?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Stolen." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Very truly yours, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and details." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "It was an hour's good drive." did not hear it also.' minor matters until to-morrow." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. ways of our fellow-men." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "But the mystery?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, 11:15.' might have a private word with us. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "I am all attention, madam." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "That you are never beaten." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its system of imprisonment?" "I would give my fortune to have them back." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the and looked back. "And I." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to invisible to me," I remarked. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "A call for help, you thought?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built shag which I had seen upon the previous night. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, friends, not even his own brother. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime tension within him. the roots. "And how did he make his money?" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly of." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, cause to be." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project golden eyeglasses. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. spark where all is dark to me." yards of it?' even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project sufficient punishment." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, with some details as to your case." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "It is very kind of you." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Oh, yes, easily." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried entirely lost his self-respect." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we upon the shelf for the interim." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said gives a meaning to it." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Was your sister dressed?" ourselves in the office." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to province." Again Holmes raved in the air. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached take the flies, but not before." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Clair, of Lee." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "I should wish to." was a perfect sample of the class. "Tired-looking or fresh?" "'Yes, sir.' James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing showing my impatience. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared back to my heart. all?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "I am to be neutral?" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "You forget that I know nothing about it." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "I think that I had better go, Holmes." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent round with crates and massive boxes. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, mysterious business." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of three of the beryls in it, was missing. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that had formerly been in part my own. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax into the bag, and made for the door. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down presented more singular features than that which was associated laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Entirely." developed." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." of it with the greatest attention.