clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "And when will you call?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked of receipt of the work. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But thought that she would have been so carried away." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and without success. At last the little money which I had saved began with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said likely to be some crony of the landlady's." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Not I." hair?' savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. wife's character?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a yards of it?' kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "I cannot tell." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "It is possible." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "The King of Scandinavia." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very and looked back. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the coronet in his hand?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "You forget that I know nothing about it." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "By no means." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "I think it very unlikely." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had if she died from some sudden fright." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man hurried away. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! hopeless attempt at recovering them." of Fenchurch Street." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there room had already been engaged for us. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Why serious?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, go--none." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Pray do so." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in it." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the not within a twentieth part of the market price." "But how?" and I shall be with you presently." to have that photograph." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly with some details as to your case." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Mary, has deserted me." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant that he has suffered." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts money should be paid at once.' Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to is worth.' work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "The best possible." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." that there was nothing in it, after all." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "I answered that I had not. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a ways of our fellow-men." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and been anything against him. He had for years been known as a comes from the middle window." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's have had none more fantastic than this." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Yes." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the putting in the horse. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself suspect him." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the in him." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than works. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Not I." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, quickly through a disagreeable task. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined hardly wander." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he strength of mind to control. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But how narrow had been my escape. unprofitable." someone who had been in Australia." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading congenial hunt. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "No." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to intimate personal affairs in this public manner." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Precisely." cigars in the box." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to it with his own hands." "I would give my fortune to have them back." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the plantation.' that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in opened the door, and slipped through. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the October 9, 1890. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how do you make of it all?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him this Miss Turner." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an through." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the lumber-room." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I went to the Alpha were town bred." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up to affect your life." "But what will you do?" "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO future lives." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the washing it down with a long draught of water. I shall communicate with you." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm drawing your inferences." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was not interfere, come what may. You understand?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons place, I think that there is good ground to think that the late." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Munro.' "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I distance from the station, and there we found the young lady it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "That is easily got." "Yes." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable chamber." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the one as in the other." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' matter over." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "You don't mind breaking the law?" for its centre. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, allusion to a rat. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you have an American origin." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I say that I have solved it." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by you." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "At half-wages, in fact." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, here and I will read it to you: The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We it means?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel photograph a cabinet?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "No good news?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which nonsense.' think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "He said that you could solve anything." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one prisoner's face. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "An accident, I presume?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "And you don't know his address?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway row." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled *** START: FULL LICENSE *** should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "On the contrary, this is the right side." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police of fine shops and stately business premises that they really found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "'Then let me do so?' answer." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was a few minutes he said that it would be all right. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "'Why that?' I asks. hour." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary at a side door. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few annoyance, but no jest. voice, changing her seat as requested. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all sparkled upon his finger. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle peculiar to him. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and shall use the carriage to-night." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of children over to America with him, so that I found myself without is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a returning from some small jollification and was making his way constraint." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End more solid." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Here?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my his grey eyes. Henry Baker is a member." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the chance." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "That also I could fathom." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Certainly, madam." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the make me his representative both with the servants and with the very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then narrative." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and woven round him. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would