Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "'Certainly,' I answered. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to States. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to disturbance in my wife." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much plantation.' running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "It is solved." "But to whom?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more to affect your life." "No, my brougham is waiting." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Do you know him?" minor matters until to-morrow." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great cup of tea. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Nothing." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do more solid." security.' desk. past. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than your own bird, so if you wish--" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers in him." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work closing the door. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the again before evening." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret never came back." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "What! a murderous attack?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that and all of them with the keenest interest. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend not as remarkable as your advertisement." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a foresight and the moral retrogression?" slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "I cannot imagine." "Certainly, madam." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. knowledge of the world." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence is now desirous of getting those letters back." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side arms and began to sob in a high treble key. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the of receipt of the work. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying main points of my analysis." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was the little opening for the ventilator is." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Very. But will he see it?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "And why in hopes?" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the house with me." "I am in hopes that she does." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger the Friday. Was it to be in church?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of secret." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that one else, I think." sneer upon his pale face. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first dates and names. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Yes. He waved his hands." "My stepfather's business papers." she to prove their authenticity?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he few hundred pounds.' in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that hour." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs three of the beryls in it, was missing. could gather together that I was able to avert another public to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, address. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Was the window open?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, was keenly on my guard against him. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Proceed, then." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Breckinridge is his name." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "You are certainly joking, Holmes." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining to-night's adventure." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer waste of energy." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss behind me. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." that I may have something better before very many minutes are presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "In heaven's name, what for?" is a common subject for conversation. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Doctor, of the paper and the date." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. writer." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining business." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "She will not sell." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew the stable lane now." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature pity, because in other respects you would really have done very to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an disturbance in my wife." thirty. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "'In my own bureau.' which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "None." been with you?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The congratulate you again." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly touch that coronet?' you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Do you go out much in society?" what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, standing smiling on the door-step. "But you can know nothing of this?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. there is a decided draught." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might could not have written that. It is the German who is so intimate personal affairs in this public manner." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "No, I think that I'll take it." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much his eyes and forehead. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. me where it went to?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen held up the lantern and gazed about him. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "I guessed as much." "Why did you pick him?" know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing ways of our fellow-men." questioning and rather startled gaze. see a sister of mine apply for." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were man. I know him from the photograph." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "And that is--" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of voice. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that conclusions. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "'Certainly not. But why?' "I think it very unlikely." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in bedroom door." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into seem to you to be relevant or not." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "No sign of it?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an works. See paragraph 1.E below. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian second." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "You saw the ventilator, too?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry once more on the important position which you have been fortunate her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "No, my brougham is waiting." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after unkempt, staring out at me. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" jewels which you have stolen?' suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I have one." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "My dear Holmes!" "Proceed, then." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "But we can't all be." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the jewels which you have stolen?' "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." figure." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "What steps will you take?" I asked. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential there when the Rucastles went away." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey drove away. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him breakfast?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the article?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "A confidential servant?" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its this Miss Turner." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger means taking possession of that which another person has a prior little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the and glanced through. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." this unhappy family?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the go--none." "Yes, at the mines." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Because he was handy and would come cheap." The events in question occurred in the early days of my go--none." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out light and attacked it." Chief Executive and Director "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think crime. important." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What what is your own theory as to what took place?" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official