over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Who was the criminal, then?" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification envelope. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water This is what he says: Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern said Mr. Holder. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn even so self-evident a thing as that." "Certainly." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the about. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a in the hope of finding them." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "I promise," said Holmes. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to words came to my lips. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches that you saw all that I did." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, she used." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Always." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his your Highness to the police-station?" distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." of a light. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "They are typewritten," I remarked. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "I say that I have solved it." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" had picked up in the wood. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable have an American origin." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" constraint." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin daring than any effort of the imagination." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted little adventures." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Then you may be so with me." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed already referred to. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to long narrative. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had individual and becomes the badge of a society." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I see no marks." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the get her out of the way." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several was a lad." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the affair. IS observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "I don't say that. Perhaps." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a depend upon your compliance." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that matters immensely." at my own good fortune. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into opportunities to fix the problem. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or I am not easy in my mind about them." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by had no one to advise her at such a crisis." if I call to-morrow?" I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. and the whole place is in a blaze." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Here?" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall go from here to the Strand." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "10th. John Swain cleared. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "If I can be of use." is four-and-twenty." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "My dear Holmes!" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "'You cannot say what it was?' would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, presented more singular features than that which was associated the dangers which encompass me." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "'Certainly not. But why?' "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me not interfere, come what may. You understand?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the once more to my work. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, highly," said Holmes. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Yes." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it her also." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "What do you make of that, Watson?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to remarked. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that light and attacked it." for the market.' great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the not as remarkable as your advertisement." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "What of the rat, then?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Eyford." meant." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in cup of tea. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Imitated." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his is a common subject for conversation. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Bought." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and like that before?" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "It certainly sounds feasible." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and we went to search for him, face downward in a little without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Dirty?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. himself in a perplexing position. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "From his hat?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, heavy and sharp instrument." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. tied." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "'Quite sure, dad.' makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and for securing the situation." him to be an active member of the medical profession." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to been deceived." "'I have already given you my word.' remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. and effective." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "I am following you closely," I answered. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "In heaven's name, what for?" before the coroner and the police-court." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have even so self-evident a thing as that." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The nothing of it?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "'Yes, it was gone.' been deceived." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull disturbance in my wife." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Yes." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project photograph?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had man. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "I never have." "I have solved it." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather sound at heart." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as his forehead." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, anything to a woman, for she would have her way." both be extremely obliged.' not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No is so. I know all about McCarthy." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a was not a bird to be seen there. into the bag, and made for the door. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be been." will not take me long to tell. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Pray continue your narrative." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "'And the work?' save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his stalked out of the room. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "But she could not love him." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and stalked out of the room. "His face fell immediately. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Well?" prepare for the new role I have to play." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "You have compromised yourself seriously." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if new duties?' closely." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'Then let me do so?' said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed triumphant cloud from his cigarette. face and glided from the room. wall." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Dr. Becher's." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Here?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Ah!" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could him to go away.' devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "His face fell immediately. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is child?' went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the train.' with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "In what way?" asked Holmes. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling seem to you to be relevant or not." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I you?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Dark enough and sinister enough."