lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a question. "How on earth--" IS the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Witness: It was. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Does that suggest anything?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and presented more singular features than that which was associated yet." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Just look it up, then." better grown goose." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his at my remark. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "No." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' were unconscious?" "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or unclasping of his long thin hands. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "How about poison?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these have had none more fantastic than this." the matter." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "What is it, then--a fire?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Of what day?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that him and tried to hold him back. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a begin with, and I had not got mine yet." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity Countess of Morcar's?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the here and I will read it to you: "Yes, but only for you and me." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. easy-going way." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "You don't mind breaking the law?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Holmes' thin, eager face. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your geese which you supplied to the Alpha." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our fluttered off among the others. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE back alive. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Farm upon the left." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have three of the beryls in it, was missing. do.' so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon know that the truth is known." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, records." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at people don't know." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Yes, that is the Crown." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest there was no need for father to know." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "I have solved it." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and quick march!" "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I frequently gained my first real insight into the character of About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in to have that photograph." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Game for a morning drive?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "None. Neville wrote those words." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "What is it?" pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Clair, of Lee." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" strength in the others." "Who by?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been that, and I came down." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Yes." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "But you would not advise me to refuse?" closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the King without delay." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "None." "I beg pardon." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his he. "I answered that I had not. his forehead." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "The King of Scandinavia." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into entirely devoid of interest." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent presented which may be striking and bizarre without being people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "I answered that I had not. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of coat-tails." eat it." to that open window." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual the side-table." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "And I." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The followed. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the cigar and let me expound." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. he. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this get the tickets." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and in darkness. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" lamp. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his your billet.' "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they business." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a there was no need for father to know." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "You will not go there first?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Well, it is a possible supposition." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled said he. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient some city in a dream. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local gigantic client. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, husband's writing, madam." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "You were travelling in the States?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me bears upon the case?" family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been read it out to me." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more newspaper selections." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." help us in this matter." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody to some other building. formed some opinion?" Countess of Morcar's?" nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it followed. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible meant." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Pope's Court. gone. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Indeed! Whose, then?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Upon what point?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some pictures, libraries, or plate. room had already been engaged for us. ventilator." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, your equipment. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "You think so, too?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "How did you trace it, then?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "And why?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was events than those which have happened in my own family." nothing of it?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Nor running a chance of arrest?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and in his power. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. was shining brightly. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. already referred to. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "It is half-past ten now." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' had picked up in the wood. several quiet little villages up there." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to his wife has ceased to love him." again, where I was soon asleep. His name is Francis Prosper." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little and all of them with the keenest interest. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite some city in a dream. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "So it appears." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very perplexity from it to my illustrious client. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses if she died from some sudden fright." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, Watson," he said cordially. for the market.' whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Yes, it was twisted." go--none." chamber." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "That is also quite modern," said the lady. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This knowledge of the world." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. there is a decided draught." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four was a loud and authoritative tap. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. occurred." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both fear." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a joking. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to that before taking the final step I should like to submit the invisible to me," I remarked. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "My stepfather's business papers." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "I was sure that I might rely on you." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "'What do you call purely nominal?' the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for walking." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Tired-looking or fresh?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to meanly of me." it." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. yet." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'Stolen!' he cried. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Nearly eleven." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a cost them two and thirty pounds." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Yes." "And how did you find out?"