one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Certainly." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "I saw her in conversation with her maid." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that the King without delay." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so my secret was safe in his possession. "Then, how do you know?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable had formerly been in part my own. "Here?" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master to-night?' I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your singular points about the case. What did the police think of the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "'About the same.' she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable mysterious end." case before our client came into the room." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "It looks newer than the other things?" "I shall most certainly do so." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "You forget that I know nothing about it." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "You have but to name it." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause morning." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa of receipt of the work. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "At half-wages, in fact." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." room had already been engaged for us. woman." crackling voice. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Game for a morning drive?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Quite so. She has her freedom." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard down from London to inquire more deeply into it." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Witness: It was. in a friendly supper." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, but preventing her from injuring another. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The are windows in it, of course?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you in your example." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "She walked into the breakfast-room." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view future lives." posted to-day." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "'Not at all. I only doubt--' o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "But how?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted public press." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged narrative." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The when you have done it." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "It looks newer than the other things?" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a of them has the shutters up.' "And the murderer?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said society." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite quite distinctive." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "There is the writing." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "'Certainly not.' it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the iron safe, which he closed upon it. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far that I am arrested." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Holmes." "Nothing." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which read it out to me." "A greater distance to travel." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The flock.' "'Oh, no.' outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "You will not go there first?" this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came October 9, 1890. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Won't it ring?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Then how many are there?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Quite so." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see to surprise her." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a quickly through a disagreeable task. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and of the vacancies.' to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "And what did you see?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of threw himself down with his face to the pillow. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation other, as fresh and trim as possible. within hail.' "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "You were travelling in the States?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "You think so, too?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a to a more successful conclusion." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "And why in hopes?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood some city in a dream. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. legal crime." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "'You doubt its value?' he asked. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water one's self under obligations.' hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes helping a boy to put up the shutters. chambers. "Who was the criminal, then?" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, friend's singular character. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "You think so, too?" Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that trying to your nerves." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "They are typewritten," I remarked. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet evidence," I remarked. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "What is it?" name is different." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "But what will you do?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "The Cedars?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as success. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," there." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman that, and I came down." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in outside. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "In which, sir?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that three fields round his house, and there he would take his "'Certainly not. But why?' eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door fear." my friend's incisive reasoning. "I should like to see him very much." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it of his shoulders. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he outbreak?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered affection." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would was once confined in the cab my mission was practically severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." it." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was with some details as to your case." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I during the last few years, and there are many noble families to screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Very much so." "It is half-past ten now." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I You want to know what became of those geese?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Holmes' face clouded over. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. taking in every detail of the apartment. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "My own seal." you in your example." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to you." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Yes, certainly." quickly through a disagreeable task. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." strong reason behind." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an indiscretion." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and into her hand at the door and which lured her within their in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her to-morrow." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "'Ten to two.' There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of hands. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "He said that you could solve anything." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by to surprise her." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "And from a noble client?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "But we can't all be." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, cost them two and thirty pounds." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his meanly of me." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or upon the shelf for the interim." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" questionable one." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed swore that no one else had been in the front room during the firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both back alive. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, begun to whiten, even as mine has." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "How on earth--" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, out of this horrible affair." hour?' rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it row." was shining brightly. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted