look dissatisfied." "Pray continue your narrative." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this both be extremely obliged.' and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban of your young ladies.' "Oh, fresh and glossy." "The Cedars?" hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been key of the affair now." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have several quiet little villages up there." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "You have the photograph?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter to tackle the facts." "Will you bet, then?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties your equipment. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Look there!" said he. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a bachelor.' "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow residence of the great financier. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I make me his representative both with the servants and with the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A head. So long, then!" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And shall not find me ungrateful." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Texas, I think." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the as he folded up the epistle. jewels which you have stolen?' of the vacancies.' this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Yes?" had formerly been in part my own. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "She will not sell." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than bird of prey. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." me upon any point which I do not make clear." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall him nearly every evening." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "In which, sir?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the particular state visit http://pglaf.org was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you garden below. business?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "I cannot imagine." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "We have tried and failed." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Which are?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the see a sister of mine apply for." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H fire. You quite follow me?" get the tickets." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Was there a secret marriage?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, disturbance in my wife." room had already been engaged for us. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Where does the thing come from?' and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus perplexity from it to my illustrious client. galvanised. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'I have already given you my word.' mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "You know me, then?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes to change my dress. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. lost nothing by them." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "None." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my noting anything else of interest. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always affection." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a matter." way in everything. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned all that?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which figure." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "No, I think that I'll take it." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside tied." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "No, I had a dozen." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something sound at heart." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the a room. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered my special province." yourselves in at night?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he tear off another piece?' which was all perfectly true. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that own family. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched You want to know what became of those geese?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "'Why that?' I asks. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I You want to know what became of those geese?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer recall any case within my experience which looked at the first intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of speckled band?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this how narrow had been my escape. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it to tackle the facts." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "10th. John Swain cleared. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "'About the same.' essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows light and attacked it." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your existence." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. other, as fresh and trim as possible. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" but preventing her from injuring another. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a meanly of me." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass at once, for I have only half an hour." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "I know where it is." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled your most interesting statement." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Do you go out much in society?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." article?" "Has he come with you to-night?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in woven round him. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my empty. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "How can you tell that?" chemical work which was so dear to him. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen away into the river." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may at once, for I have only half an hour." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "I will get her to show me." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like outbreak?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Of what?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you to-morrow." narrative." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Nothing." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'And what are they worth?' I asked. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Is he quiet?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this which we had just quitted. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, upon a handsome competence. tension within him. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have despair." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove where Mr. Fordham shows you.' I took the paper from him and read as follows: the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Yes, sir." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "How can you tell that?" served to weaken the effect. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "It is true that I have been generally successful." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), at my remark. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg individual and becomes the badge of a society." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Foundation "'Never.' "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in maiden herself was most instructive." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it forehead. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Stolen, then." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" throat." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have window when the police appeared." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. already been minutely examined." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "I am all attention, madam." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, clanging. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge door?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "He is still with you, I presume?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a had died away into the silence from which it rose. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say bonnet, and went out." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "It is possible." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the coat-tails." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must fish-monger and a tide-waiter." train.' "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said chance." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in future lives." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in room. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or green of the new foliage. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as characteristics, but those are the more obvious." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and them, and came down just as you departed. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "I saw her in conversation with her maid." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem once more. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of security.' she might be summoned. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. and glanced through. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "And what did you see?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. became a certainty. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same lost nothing by them." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key the one as in the other." "I am following you closely," I answered. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are note?" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You his knees, staring into the fire. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in was a lad." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but in him." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Very well, sir. And this stone?"