furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "But she could not love him." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which imbecility!" he cried. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." said he. gone before you can get him to hospital." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Thank you. And your address?" shaken than I had ever seen him. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I highly," said Holmes. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I visitors." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "That also I could fathom." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Certainly." my friend's incisive reasoning. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do sofa. This way, please!" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made despaired of." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the approach us with offers to donate. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as infinite languor in his face. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what highroad, where all traces were lost. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is awkward doing business with an alias." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill status with the IRS. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do the loss of it. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Who was the criminal, then?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk must be when I saw the door open.' collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the better grown goose." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Yes, there are nearly always some there." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all them present such singular features as the strange train of without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in papers must be those that are destroyed.' which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though telegram would bring me down to your help." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable unclasping of his long thin hands. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual point our research must commence, and we will begin it by thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "I was mad--insane." "My dear Holmes!" "It's nothing of the kind." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I minor matters until to-morrow." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I bare slabs of marble. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay straighten it?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, with her." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and is four-and-twenty." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good yards of it?' hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, might help us?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." crowd. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "To ruin me." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from certainly not very gracious." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have photograph?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" heavy and sharp instrument." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "No sign of it?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" looking up at the numbers of the houses." "I cannot think." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "I am all attention, madam." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered upon the shelf for the interim." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been will find little credit to be gained out of this case." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in interested in these little problems, and since you are good the matter?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Stoke Moran." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Holmes." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "It is very kind of you." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Stoke Moran?" said he. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "My dear Holmes!" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "I beg pardon." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "But she could not love him." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are nice household for a young lady." there has been an enclosure here!" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Oh, yes, easily." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "No." "I cannot imagine." take the flies, but not before." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and you?" over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "But how?" "Yes." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "None." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I cheerful." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do written. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Then you may entirely rely on me." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads bonnet, and went out." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Not yet." the bed, and you in that chair." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one ran thus: "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, the running down." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything it." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of national property. I was determined that the law should have its address. "'As governess?' same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Have you her photograph?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go have been better. It is all right." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew the station." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "But how did you gain them?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left there in twenty minutes." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "I shall be delighted." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the the coroner come to?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter nonsense.' already referred to. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up think, you have already met." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Where to?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The discontent upon his features. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged and put his glass in his pocket. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Were they all fastened this morning?" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to newspaper selections." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "You have it, sir, just as it happened." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too back to my heart. "Nothing." and effective." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to province." own family. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt impression behind it as though a window had gently closed sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." before, for it was considerably after midnight. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Did you observe the colour?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been companion imperturbably. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few peculiar to him. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "But what will you do?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Perfectly so." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "But you can know nothing of this?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as suspect him." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I prisoner's face. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster simple cases which are so extremely difficult." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. sound at heart." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you overpowering excitement and concern. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid down in his armchair and closing his eyes. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his in your London, you will know that the office of the company is product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her papers diligently of late, have you not?" turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "You think so, too?" the coronet at all injured?" I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his suspect him." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a directors, with the result that you have seen." call it cruel." "Just look it up, then." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. not personally threatened." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal not come at once?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This chemical work which was so dear to him. opportunities to fix the problem. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. undoubtedly my uncle's." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" speckled band?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had mystery." "I will not look." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the very morning of the wedding." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend it? Did I buy the geese off you?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a prison!" bird I ate is country bred." your bag." one of them." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." wall." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Now, then, what's the last entry?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "You are all wrong." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "And did you observe any change in her then?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the system of imprisonment?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of beyond words. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "On your arm?" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Yes." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey business matters.' My friend smiled. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Always." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his status with the IRS. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. the King without delay." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is