importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the footfalls from the street. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the there has been an enclosure here!" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "One of his hands." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by London for the present?" to affect your life." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to interests were the same as his." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Sholtos." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he fishes. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." the matter?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "You think that he is dead?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The whereabouts. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "'You doubt its value?' he asked. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at papers diligently of late, have you not?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "I do." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier one which it was hard to resist. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "And help." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "But she will refuse." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "None." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental not, dad?" she asked. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long the tragedy. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him bird of prey. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of trifles." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "And now?" He raised his hand. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "But what is it you wish?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "So I am. Very much so." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us breakfast?" "I am to be neutral?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding name is different." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that in. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that minor matters until to-morrow." over with notes and figures. mystery." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "VIOLET HUNTER." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That congratulate you again." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in detective. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a highroad, where all traces were lost. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "He said too much." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "It is no ordinary one." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "It must be recovered." row." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this constraint." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "On your arm?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from she has been waylaid. There has been no result." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Which are?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we floor. putting in the horse. a monotonous occupation." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself mystery." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he McCarthy." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with to arrive at through this?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year door?" "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a he died? it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet chamber." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the individual and becomes the badge of a society." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "About a month then." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a said he. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" there!' fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, to affect your life." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken congenial hunt. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut you in your example." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, lumber-room." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some The King stared at him in amazement. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his bird of prey. mysterious end." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "She showed me, as I told you she would." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag it." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "It looks newer than the other things?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "What!" he roared. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. trifles." distinguish the words: gone before you can get him to hospital." "What!" he roared. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the I nodded to show that I had heard. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He weary and pale-looking. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a orange pips. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Not in the least." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "And did you observe any change in her then?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' unkempt, staring out at me. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction to-night." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those you?' suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided Eyford at 11:15.' jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "I shall be delighted." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most once more for Briony Lodge. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "VIOLET HUNTER." "Never to return." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "I am about to be married." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the you." green of the new foliage. "One?" would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his point in the dark hollow of his hand. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me about. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the ways of our fellow-men." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was to-night?' lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "It certainly sounds feasible." burst out into a roar of laughter. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of way in." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or the side-table." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "No, I think that I'll take it." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. to that open window." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "But she will refuse." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "'What would be the hours?' I asked. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "'Yes, it was gone.' safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable lost his Christmas dinner." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" your most interesting statement." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a his eyes and forehead. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "My last client of the sort was a king." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming of this gang." seem to you to be relevant or not." "Well." touch that coronet?' set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Stolen, then." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The grasp, he hurried from the room. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my breakfast." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Does that suggest anything?" While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw fattened it expressly for you.' higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "'Not at all. I only doubt--' what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the words came to my lips. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "I was afraid that you were engaged." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Why serious?" the driver. "But how did you gain them?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No unkempt, staring out at me. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Then I can wait in the next room." with the outside air!" used to be." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off problems help me to do so." forecastle of an emigrant ship. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the brain must have something in it." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "What! a murderous attack?" discontent upon his features. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both During two years I have had three consultations and one small dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "No, my brougham is waiting." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as you?" the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have strange features which were associated with the two crimes which address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "No. His orders were to stay in the house." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "He might." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry article?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It means taking possession of that which another person has a prior put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of."