inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going point in the dark hollow of his hand. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Well?" asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My this as likely?" think that any burglar could have done. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. a suggestive one." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect one of the states of the Union." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it three of the beryls in it, was missing. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "It's nothing of the kind." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work lost his Christmas dinner." that?' shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some at once, for I have only half an hour." "But how?" footfalls from the street. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean some terrible trap for her." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused vague figure huddled up in the darkness. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "We must have a cab." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. a very grave face. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Then I do not see the point." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By at my remark. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be thin, with a long, sharp nose?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said a good hundred miles off by now." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the IS rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some newspaper selections." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you sooner or later she must fall a victim. "My own seal." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "But how?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land in the hope of finding them." "How did that help you?" either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made arrested. You then--" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading this remarkable episode. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in introspective fashion. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no good for you to do.' before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or cause to be." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "And you thought he was pulled back?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the one as in the other." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "You think so, too?" Count Von Kramm." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the date of his supposed suicide." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let questioning and rather startled gaze. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my young Openshaw's." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your said I. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I am about to be married." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Yes, at the mines." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now American. Then who could this American be, and why should he thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "A greater distance to travel." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "It looks newer than the other things?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. congenial hunt. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," best detective that ever lived. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never were wasted." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Yes, from Horsham." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Sholtos." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Countess of Morcar's?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who visitors." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "It looks newer than the other things?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Well, some hundreds of times." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his to have been novel and of interest." "He is still with you, I presume?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say London for the present?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in cup of tea. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Has he come with you to-night?" in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Where, then, is my wife?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was geese which you supplied to the Alpha." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his sound at heart." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my you want, then?' that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "No." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "And did you observe any change in her then?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his McCarthy's innocence. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "I should wish to." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days strange features which were associated with the two crimes which three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the should be so warm over such a trifle." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would fishes. look upon these things in a different way." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the crime. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his which are rolled in Rotterdam." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." narrative." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Leave Paddington by the 11:15." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I appeal." "I will get her to show me." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to you." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Were they all fastened this morning?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the habit of advancing money.' came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, just called myself is not exactly my own." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, confronted him. be.' "'What then?' I asked. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "What have you done?" asked Holmes. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "And help." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense to have that photograph." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "I will get her to show me." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the matter." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, and the whole place is in a blaze." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the inner apartment." fire. You quite follow me?" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "'And what salary do you ask?' hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that dead, shall be safe with us." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Countess of Morcar's?" expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow residence of the great financier. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked to-night?' on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "But who is he?" Count Von Kramm." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "It's nothing of the kind." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the date of his supposed suicide." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far highroad, where all traces were lost. "'Which dealer's?' bird of prey. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "You have carte blanche." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Where to?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "He said too much." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Why, what do you mean?" "But he might be a bachelor." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar joking. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, you?' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She foot. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "It is no ordinary one." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Street. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "How many? I don't know." I have it here in my museum." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned unkempt, staring out at me. there has been an enclosure here!" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some been." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "My last client of the sort was a king." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my my secret was safe in his possession. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Yes, all." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil that, and I came down." than was visible to me." letters?" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill which I could not give. He asked for Alice. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "I am following you closely," I answered. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "I was sure that I might rely on you." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the morning and make my own way in the world.' could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Yes, at the mines." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "We must sit without light. He would see it through the is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said.