the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "The Cedars?" was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible you?" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "And I say east," said my patient. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." night.' said he. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It answer." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag rat could hardly pass through." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the sound at heart." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "But I am all in the dark." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to prove to be little relation between the different incidents of blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be results." States. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast obstinate." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Why, what do you mean?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Pope's Court, Fleet Street." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Ha! you find it so?" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and to have been novel and of interest." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "None." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of quick march!" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly me upon any point which I do not make clear." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "And sit in the dark?" hurried by. over part of the map. "What do you read?" better in every way that they should make their position a little but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which this poor creature." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in too. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "By no means." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' October 9, 1890. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "But I have heard all that you have heard." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I should wish to." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me room?" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Why did you beat the pavement?" wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "VIOLET HUNTER." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced awkward doing business with an alias." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able himself in a perplexing position. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, enough to aid us in our search." a good hundred miles off by now." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it other means.' Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Come in!" said he. the date of his supposed suicide." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Then, as to money?" could not account in any way for the presence of the missing receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is fluttered off among the others. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Cross for the Continent." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to learned something! Where are the gems?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Dark enough and sinister enough." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do minor matters until to-morrow." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a could gather together that I was able to avert another public has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention papers." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which James Windibank. Voilà tout!" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into said I. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the directors, with the result that you have seen." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Street. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was power." "How did you deduce the select?" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Yes, certainly." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I say it is." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, rat could hardly pass through." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. certainly not very gracious." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "I should like to see him very much." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your been deceived." not personally threatened." "You have carte blanche." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at the best of training." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." to a light-house. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Stoke Moran?" said he. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as father's place of business?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw populous neighbourhood." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after lips." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of there in twenty minutes." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss some city in a dream. he bowed and left the room without another word. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen stood on the top of it. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, nonsense.' Holmes' thin, eager face. dear old homesteads?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the matter." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "One of the highest in England." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. extraordinary contortions. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and key turn in the lock." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him coroner's jury." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Why did you beat the pavement?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well opened the door, and slipped through. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "By train from Waterloo." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty on in his house." someone who had been in Australia." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to ceremony." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Surrey." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Well, it is a possible supposition." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "And from a noble client?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see written. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "No, finished." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of new acquaintance to Baker Street. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this fluttered off among the others. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away remarked. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some up this clue while it is still hot." the devil!" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of chance at all." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The your equipment. interests were the same as his." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to of campaign. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the kindly on the shoulder. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "You horrify me!" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. wedding?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. and laid it on the table. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there test if we have an answer to our advertisement." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt have an American origin." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." one of them." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in keep the flames under. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Ha! you find it so?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his answer." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Certainly." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to whereabouts. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be along the entire front of the house, with three long windows way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "'Certainly not.' "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have ready to-morrow?' "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That she to prove their authenticity?" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and maiden herself was most instructive." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the imbecility!" he cried. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary suggested at once that there must be a communication between the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "That's no good." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, strong and stiff." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. was lame." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "But how?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last which I could not give. He asked for Alice. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "'How far from the body?' time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always that you wished to speak to me?' whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "'A dozen yards or so.' above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and