recover the gem." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "'As governess?' "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend see me here to avoid scandal." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "What are they?" "My own seal." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is think that he is innocent?" the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he woman." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom when you have done it." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my the stones. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was suddenly upon us." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "But I have heard all that you have heard." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant three fields round his house, and there he would take his was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. which it had come upon my father." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the before, for it was considerably after midnight. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Pray do so." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "I know where it is." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I place no limit on the sum I may draw." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Yes, it was twisted." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of congenial hunt. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "You are all wrong." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the fact, we may call it conclusive." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been few hundred pounds.' little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the tell me that you intended to go into harness." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "What! Had he lost his wife?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional him, that man would not have given me such complete information it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I it." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them and put his glass in his pocket. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "I see no marks." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, trying to your nerves." them?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless round with crates and massive boxes. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary acted in my house last night?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel sufficient punishment." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "I will do it." "She showed me, as I told you she would." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "You will not go there first?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for way: "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very compunction about shooting them down." fear." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying that there was nothing in it, after all." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "To an end?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was electronic works hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the best of training." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a them?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "'In my own bureau.' A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in ago." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let to-night?' it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "I was afraid that you were engaged." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, noting anything else of interest. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it know what is wrong with it.' I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not III. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH extraordinary contortions. to take care of herself." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, matter." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at said he. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very writers could invent nothing more crude." "How do you know, then?" joking. "The doctor?" closely." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Countess of Morcar's?" him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "It is half-past ten now." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near laugh and put his lips to my ear. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the said I. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about habit of advancing money.' had picked up in the wood. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "And now?" He raised his hand. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Why? What do you mean?" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated several quiet little villages up there." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at directors have had misgivings upon the subject." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of forbidden door. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement opened a pocket-book and took out a note. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." one else, I think." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. it right.' Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still politicians who had been sent down from the North. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it tied." "'Ten to two.' occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion like that before?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into signal between you and your father? therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." States. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at only touch the interest." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his opened a pocket-book and took out a note. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, strength in the others." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same allusion to a rat. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use like gravel from a pit.' "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he business at Coburg Square is serious." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, morning." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case here and I will read it to you: "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. your billet.' be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Yes, from Horsham." a good hundred miles off by now." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or which it had come upon my father." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. she might be summoned. never will be, entirely cleared up. "Who was the criminal, then?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Yes." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "So I heard. You have him here?" his cane at the bell-pull. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had forecastle of an emigrant ship. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Imitated." "Only as much as we can deduce." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do and wait." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a once more to my work. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE when your master had gone out." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and leaning back in his chair. "No." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It way in." Lee, in the county of Kent." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he of this gang." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the night.' sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age I have it here in my museum." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Why, it's a dummy," said he. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just the child." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their The note was undated, and without either signature or address. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the or other trace. But how on earth--" What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly maiden herself was most instructive." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court rose-bushes. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "There is the writing." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she crime." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become away into the river." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "I have seen the police." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "She showed me, as I told you she would." it." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more come either from the window or the door. My attention was British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the one which it was hard to resist. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "We must have a cab." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting the King without delay." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in forecastle of an emigrant ship. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your