my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "How did that help you?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working geese which you supplied to the Alpha." away into the river." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "At the wedding breakfast." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his have had none more fantastic than this." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "I am armed." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "I cannot tell." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," at once, for I have only half an hour." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to footfalls from the street. see me here to avoid scandal." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off late!' form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my ill-usage at the hands of fortune. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just But Holmes shook his head gravely. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate what do you think they found in the pockets?" the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he mysterious end." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the affection." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was what is your own theory as to what took place?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Was your sister dressed?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "And I to find an enemy." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," best detective that ever lived. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "My opinion is in no way altered." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year companion. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you his knees, staring into the fire. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing ago." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "And it is--" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. that I may have something better before very many minutes are of Mr. Rucastle's." sooner or later she must fall a victim. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "It is half-past ten now." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and his face. few hundred pounds.' The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very one which it was hard to resist. yet." nights." "Ha! you find it so?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps the address that was given us in the advertisement. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. fact, we may call it conclusive." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "You will not go there first?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face she to prove their authenticity?" waste of energy." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up province." visitors." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such strong and stiff." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George are, I think, all that we need." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, have one." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. been." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a crackling voice. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over taking in every detail of the apartment. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "'What, the red-headed man?' have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round there." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day official police." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon which we had just quitted. you in your example." here." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her do you make of it all?" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Yes." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. signal between you and your father? down. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "He slept on the premises." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "'Is 4 pounds a week.' last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have him to be an active member of the medical profession." room had already been engaged for us. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "'Which dealer's?' that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "But I am all in the dark." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see constraint." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had to tackle the facts." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "But how did you gain them?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but this truth that in these little records of our cases which you that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off and the church but not where the lady lived." "About a month then." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little touch that coronet?' the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down to affect your life." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the is so. I know all about McCarthy." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to started for the Temple to see my husband. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one went to the Alpha were town bred." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive trying to your nerves." laugh and put his lips to my ear. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." absorbing." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Did your wife hear all this?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards get the tickets." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., From what you have told me I think that it is possible that matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I sound at heart." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "And why?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "They are typewritten," I remarked. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in thought that she would have been so carried away." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told he. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and wall." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he anything to do with the matter?" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "I shall be delighted." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick will be renamed. empty. "That is unusual in a young girl." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Dr. Becher's." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have away to you." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I interested in these little problems, and since you are good quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Yes, that is the Crown." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope call you and give you the chance." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him weighed down with some great anxiety. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both them present such singular features as the strange train of "You are certainly joking, Holmes." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "It is solved." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. records." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. happened." correct than the official force." which was all perfectly true. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in with you alone." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "And I to find an enemy." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "And what did you see?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of enough to aid us in our search." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she dramatic, in fact." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's tapping his fingers upon the table. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into beyond words. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and your equipment. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "A call for help, you thought?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and upon the white wrist. passage and a tap at the door. III. attention." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary what do you think they found in the pockets?" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Where, then?" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in said I. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important bird I ate is country bred." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "I am following you closely," I answered. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "I answered that I had not. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been and all of them with the keenest interest. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "'A dozen yards or so.' Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "When did she vanish, then?" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "No, thank goodness, she did not." disappearance of the bride.'" round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then roused himself from his reverie. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Pool. charged with?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father fact, we may call it conclusive." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': the coronet in his hands?" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the