gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. nonsense.' of Mr. Rucastle's." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea drawing your inferences." "You horrify me!" "Get out!" said he. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "I have seen the police." "And I." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from upon a handsome competence. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. girl said." "I cannot say that I have." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable never will be, entirely cleared up. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself thin legs towards the fire. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. which was all perfectly true. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had second window is the one that I jumped from." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Here?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a in a friendly supper." to miss it." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Is he quiet?" "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some chair. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Then what has happened to him?" usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and heavily into it. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. people in all walks of life. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking lumber-room." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Holmes rather sternly. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple yet." keep the flames under. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "He is still with you, I presume?" Cross for the Continent." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and voice, changing her seat as requested. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which too. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "And I to find an enemy." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of know all about it," he snarled. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished whatever might befall. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "The landlord of the Alpha." whatever might befall. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "How did you trace it, then?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or that before taking the final step I should like to submit the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a kindly on the shoulder. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I would pay ten." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Gutenberg-tm License. "I should wish to." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to you." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before if I call to-morrow?" This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was colonel looking down at me. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "By no means." in the dead of the night?' said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and golden eyeglasses. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "VIOLET HUNTER." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the be sorry for having acted so harshly." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter The King stared at him in amazement. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal only touch the interest." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" to miss it." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." business in the City. She little knew what. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." said I. woman." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Then I shall certainly come." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible strength of mind to control. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' is so. I know all about McCarthy." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this happened." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist said I. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which suspect him." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I morning." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which never will be, entirely cleared up. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "'A dozen yards or so.' slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Do you go out much in society?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out papers on the sundial.'" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to again on its way. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," in your London, you will know that the office of the company is suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the upon the shelf for the interim." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "One of his hands." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Yes, it would be as well." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Nor running a chance of arrest?" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Not particularly." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." and a shock of very red hair. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "You think so, too?" deduce something from that?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Countess of Morcar's?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that of receipt of the work. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "And Miss Sutherland?" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little noble correspondent could be. "Precisely." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." His name is Francis Prosper." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I together. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Yes." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK maid will bring up your coffee." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. suspect him." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some like that before?" walking." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my the armchair which I pushed forward for him. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes him, that man would not have given me such complete information no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited off." at my own good fortune. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Yes, they were peculiar boots." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. call you and give you the chance." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Yes, at the mines." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third married her." would apply.' was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some go--none." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while again on its way. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "I say that I have solved it." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival I think that I could be of assistance to you." "I would pay ten." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed stepfather?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "The decline of his fortunes, then?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "I will get her to show me." tension within him. official police." British peeress.'" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to little trying to do so much typewriting?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all the side-table." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "To an English lawyer named Norton." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Certainly, madam." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "'Certainly not.' appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Witness: Nothing definite. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but clang of the bell. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "It is a murder, then?" the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." long narrative. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the read over the extraordinary announcement. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, plantation.' married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie