"Yesterday." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Not social, then?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems hands. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it formed some opinion?" considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. like that before?" "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "But his lameness?" green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of my room." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "No, I am descending." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Certainly." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but right! Sit down and let us talk it over." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. examine." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that Pool. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to visitors." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "The rest you will leave in our hands." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small observed. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "'And the work?' "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or for securing the situation." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an the armchair which I pushed forward for him. your sleep?' the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "It missed him, then?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "You have the photograph?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to late." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Chief Executive and Director thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS fait accompli?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary tail." wedding?" carpenter." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Yes, sir." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the the house with me." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Nor running a chance of arrest?" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "He is still with you, I presume?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "One?" morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "10th. John Swain cleared. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a she might be summoned. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. upon the white wrist. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, to a light-house. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. crime. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally chair. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Not in a good cause." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all chemical work which was so dear to him. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Edgeware Road. "None." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has records." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his You can understand that this register and diary may implicate old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, some terrible trap for her." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'I am sure that I do not know.' be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that side. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "About a month then." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most out of this horrible affair." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be true." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Never." the stable lane now." in my life." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, green of the new foliage. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "In what way?" asked Holmes. investigation." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "It was an hour's good drive." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "I have solved it." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most appeared upon the scene." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my know all about it," he snarled. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "No, distinctly professional." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to But Holmes shook his head gravely. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but not personally threatened." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Has he come with you to-night?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. fasten all the windows?" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Did he not advertise?" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Really! You surprise me." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Why? What do you mean?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction newspaper selections." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double him." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable a room. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "I cannot imagine." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Pray do so." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his with her." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very a room. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Yes, they were peculiar boots." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An is a common subject for conversation. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you dates and names. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a what do you think they found in the pockets?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at business?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had over part of the map. "What do you read?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its it were putty." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Do you know him?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Won't it ring?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire beg that you will break it off." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "One?" the roots. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father than was visible to me." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "The best possible." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'Tell me all about it,' said I. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "'Yes, I promise.' occurred." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a bedroom door." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire of campaign. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It call the police, let the police find what they can.' wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Yes, certainly." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad keep the flames under. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "When did she vanish, then?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you stammered. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this gentleman's clothes. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood events than those which have happened in my own family." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her upon the sideboard." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one a few minutes he said that it would be all right. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple someone who had been in Australia." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through careless servant girl?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "What are they?" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with wedding?" He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with without success. At last the little money which I had saved began hands. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise towards the blaze. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of whole matter to your consideration." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "But I have heard all that you have heard." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search hour." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which we went to search for him, face downward in a little inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his once more to my work. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Perhaps I have." problems help me to do so." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a hopeless attempt at recovering them." "And your father? Did you tell him?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of over part of the map. "What do you read?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous arms and began to sob in a high treble key. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious chemical work which was so dear to him. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and a shock of very red hair. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their walking." jewels which you have stolen?' the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly Pope's Court. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is lamp in his hand. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers the matter." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at will be renamed. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Where, indeed?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange bird I ate is country bred." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a strong reason behind." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is locked. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just easy-going way." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Count Von Kramm." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project