"Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "It missed him, then?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my in this note: about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Yes, I have one waiting." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Sholtos." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to on in his house." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called prisoner's face. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Who by?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Here?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the washing it down with a long draught of water. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to before, for it was considerably after midnight. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the of his shoulders. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "That's no good." galvanised. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he room. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held foresight and the moral retrogression?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it overpowering excitement and concern. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke out of this horrible affair." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am in darkness. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case disappearance of the bride.'" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. said Mr. Holder. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to of your young ladies.' were unconscious?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. but preventing her from injuring another. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "What of the rat, then?" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very it were putty." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if secret." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner his eyes and forehead. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the place of silver." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the very morning of the wedding." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by intrusion of other matters." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "It missed him, then?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. occurred." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for happened." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies infinite languor in his face. from you?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "I have solved it." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a round and wave him away like that.' was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary spare." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "But to whom?" evidence," I remarked. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay in my life." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep from you?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that prepare for the new role I have to play." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the where we are going." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of to have that photograph." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "I am armed." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I which we had just quitted. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." she to prove their authenticity?" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always closing the door. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "And you can do nothing until then?" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Did you observe the colour?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." him nearly every evening." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "What, then?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands the room while you explain this matter?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of Henry Baker is a member." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Heh?' "Eh? What was that?" of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return horse could go." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A into the room. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Was she in good spirits?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the highly," said Holmes. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps my little problems." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "What then?" the driver. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Well?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then any little problem which you may submit to me." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "'Quite sure, dad.' either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. against a man in the prime of life?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the business." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can leave you to your papers for a little." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "How do you know, then?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the sufficient punishment." during that time.' several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Surrey." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Not yet." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where of the way of danger. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "'What then?' I asked. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done approach us with offers to donate. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." definite end. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found go from here to the Strand." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for shaken than I had ever seen him. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither dear old homesteads?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "I have my revolver," said I. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so you in your example." "Well, but China?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "We must sit without light. He would see it through the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Come in!" said Holmes. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." went to the Alpha were town bred." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "He disappeared so suddenly." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "I will get her to show me." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is held up the lantern and gazed about him. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "It is solved." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the seen the man in the road." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "I think that it is very probable." tightly behind him. "Certainly, madam." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore own family. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "It certainly sounds feasible." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Why serious?" so far?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend possible that we could bring him back to her? "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up was a perfect sample of the class. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of evidence," I remarked. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his straightened it out again. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if there was no need for father to know." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Where is it, then?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary throat." papers on the sundial.'" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and not fit the lock." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "What do you mean?" I nodded to show that I had heard. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains four million human beings all jostling each other within the voice. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Yes, from Horsham." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "What! a murderous attack?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "It may not come to that," said Holmes. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "I don't believe it." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over distinguish the words: frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make