dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the house with me." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and noise which awoke you from your sleep?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out happened." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching was once confined in the cab my mission was practically the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "'Yes, I promise.' some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, once more. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "That was it, sir." business." should be so warm over such a trifle." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and one which it was hard to resist. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. purpose of examination. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set will he say when he returns?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main colour had been driven from his face. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit which we had just quitted. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad what I may call a really hard day's work." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in what these perils are?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no better grown goose." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident delirious. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is From what you have told me I think that it is possible that money should be paid at once.' nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we with some details as to your case." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Witness: Nothing definite. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner been with you?" "On the contrary, this is the right side." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I am about to be married." sofa. This way, please!" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and yet." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. during which he might have communicated with his friend the but preventing her from injuring another. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "And on what day did he meet his death?" is entirely a question of barometric pressure." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Yes." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, key of the affair now." Holmes' thin, eager face. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Nearly eleven." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "What have you to say now?" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns never came back." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the dead, shall be safe with us." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without hardly wander." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. during that time.' pound a week." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" thirty. this as likely?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who hour?' should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" ago." be sorry for having acted so harshly." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, province." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her despair." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "What office?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Very truly yours, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, several quiet little villages up there." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." but preventing her from injuring another. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "How many? I don't know." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other never will be, entirely cleared up. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms morning." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, again, where I was soon asleep. bachelor.' I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not than was visible to me." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" rooms." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they sooner or later she must fall a victim. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." the side-table." fat-encircled eyes. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "This photograph!" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to the south-west, I see." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "But you can know nothing of this?" Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm foresight and the moral retrogression?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at John Swain, of St. Augustine. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Pray do so." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "'Where to?' "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of upon the shelf for the interim." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to one of the states of the Union." purpose of examination. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Who by?" them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "'Tell me all about it,' said I. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." them?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come himself in a perplexing position. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at his face which made him a very different person to the round, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Then I shall certainly come." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have more solid." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further happened." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an presented which may be striking and bizarre without being fashion which was peculiar to him. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took him." mystery!" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "I shall be delighted." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Clair, of Lee." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "It is a murder, then?" "It was." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Miss Holder?" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "No, finished." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to guilty one." detained." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' of his shoulders. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' the address that was given us in the advertisement. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek rooms." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. other, as fresh and trim as possible. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge writing, and yet I know it well." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Of what day?" corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to had died away into the silence from which it rose. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town and laid it on the table. "Yes." gone. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own back to my heart. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Pool. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Stolen, then." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and one of them." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "What do you make of that, Watson?" gives a meaning to it." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. without a word or a look. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, read it out to me." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' 1.F. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "It was a confession," I ejaculated. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Yes, the wine-cellar." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a look dissatisfied." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "'Yes.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'And what salary do you ask?' "I am in hopes that she does." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she little adventures." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce ventilator." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm carried out of court." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Proceed, then." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to sofa. This way, please!" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Literary Archive Foundation "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the coronet in his hands?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "And how have you succeeded?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been my friend's incisive reasoning. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "My own seal." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Your French gold?" "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "It surprised me." other lovers by making love himself." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one ourselves in the office." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the persecution?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "No." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and and your relations to her." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after