"But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another society." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a place no limit on the sum I may draw." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me a monotonous occupation." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I yourselves in at night?" son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for even of instruction." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "The gentleman I describe." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was golden eyeglasses. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by be.' who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith of the one which your family is now devouring." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "It is his hat." "Entirely." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "What?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the business?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "'I have heard so.' reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what sit on the left-hand side of the driver." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same and the whole place is in a blaze." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the paper in the air. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an upon an income of about 60 pounds." stalked out of the room. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "On Monday." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be the station." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "I will do it." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then had a long day." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, security.' "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "And from a noble client?" waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "She walked into the breakfast-room." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway said he. "Texas, I think." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "I am about to be married." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his outside. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "But I am all in the dark." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Stoke Moran?" said he. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "But how?" October 9, 1890. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "But how will you look?" "It is a murder, then?" from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester existence." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a with you?" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. populous neighbourhood." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you better in every way that they should make their position a little "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and hurried by. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our me." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that it." closely." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able conduct the inquiry." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace if only as a check to my own memory." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as nice household for a young lady." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium he died? "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great certainly do as you advise." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "You heard nothing yourself last night?" was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "'Never,' said I. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Pool. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So had this final quarrel? was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. I took the paper from him and read as follows: liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my entirely devoid of interest." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just power." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong lost nothing by them." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, made him keep the appointment." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "But we can't all be." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see with you alone." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He assist you in forming an opinion." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence read over the extraordinary announcement. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Street. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Heh?' during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "The Cedars?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the were unconscious?" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a late!' fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to into her hand at the door and which lured her within their send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up vanished into the darkness. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "You don't mind breaking the law?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another he. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. dates and names. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging my friend's incisive reasoning. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "It is very clear." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I answered with a sidelong glance. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "How can you tell that?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the Assizes." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the served to weaken the effect. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked situation." "About a month then." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "What can you not understand?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. the best of training." bill, which interests me deeply." "Frequently." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three away to you." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "I am to be neutral?" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage returned to France?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "No, finished." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands It was close upon four before the door opened, and a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "I am sure." into the bag, and made for the door. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. nothing of it?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a figure." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest papers must be those that are destroyed.' the loss of it. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "But his left-handedness." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Foundation skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "You have carte blanche." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to enough to aid us in our search." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "You have but to name it." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut highroad, where all traces were lost. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Yes. He waved his hands." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a fat-encircled eyes. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very will find little credit to be gained out of this case." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and man. o'clock is it?" "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was the devil!" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient and capable of preserving a secret.' as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it prepare for the new role I have to play." is," said he presently: "Why? What do you mean?" said he at last. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "It was." I was concerned in it." as this. Pray let me have the details." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "And Miss Sutherland?" and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution hurried by. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a business matters.' looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere helping a boy to put up the shutters. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her husband's writing, madam." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the he died? If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. which we had just quitted. read over the extraordinary announcement. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Well, some hundreds of times." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Tired-looking or fresh?" secret." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots down. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "What?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows means taking possession of that which another person has a prior there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "I will not look." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had get the tickets." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Pope's Court. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. over with notes and figures. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "'There is a drive, then?' life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or examination of the premises, but without finding anything which I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a families. Now for the facts. grasp, he hurried from the room. you." have accepted such a situation. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "But how?" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe affair. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "And why in hopes?" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait investigation." fled together." all that?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There shoulder; "he's all right." round with crates and massive boxes. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "And now?" He raised his hand. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be should be taken.' "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "I am all attention, madam." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each shoulder. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Cross for the Continent." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good my room." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?"