A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Then you may entirely rely on me." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "And Miss Sutherland?" he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and Holmes rather sternly. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to spark where all is dark to me." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the official police." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, advice." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing disappearance of the bride.'" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She that threaten you." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Pool. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of You can understand that this register and diary may implicate her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "How many? I don't know." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "'Yes.' golden eyeglasses. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Watson," he said cordially. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and tell me that you intended to go into harness." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him particular state visit http://pglaf.org Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "'Which dealer's?' at once, for I have only half an hour." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his in. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of laugh and put his lips to my ear. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for giving me time to thank him. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "That sounds a little paradoxical." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a rose-bushes. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found III. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "My photograph." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "I was afraid that you were engaged." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "You are certainly joking, Holmes." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "'Is purely nominal.' "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "She will not sell." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Where to?" "How did that help you?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "She walked into the breakfast-room." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a himself to tell his story. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The power." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There carpenter." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle weighed down with some great anxiety. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Very much so." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the house with me." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" front of me. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece me. You must get home instantly and act." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the bled considerably." "It must be recovered." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." take the flies, but not before." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "That also I could fathom." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' felt the room to be a little close.' "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and had a long day." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem strong reason behind." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Yes, only one." not, dad?" she asked. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider I shall communicate with you." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' already referred to. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "I have solved it." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you standing smiling on the door-step. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Yes, that is the Crown." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I you." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "'As governess?' "Yes." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case all?" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at which I could not give. He asked for Alice. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "I should be immensely obliged to you." "That is easily got." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the driver. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to round with crates and massive boxes. remarked. "Precisely." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "How can you tell that?" enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife observed. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of the stable lane now." Does that suggest anything?" standing smiling on the door-step. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," tightly behind him. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had and I shall be with you presently." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon late." on in his house." "Not social, then?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had you give your casting vote to?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a seen the man in the road." Serpentine Avenue. said he at last. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Yes, sir." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg goes." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger heavy and sharp instrument." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in the matter." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return washing it down with a long draught of water. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as help us in this matter." them present such singular features as the strange train of explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does I was concerned in it." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as affection." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, suggested at once that there must be a communication between the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling coat-tails." hair?' "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "No." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "By no means." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." a room. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over Arthur Conan Doyle heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Absolutely none." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in drawing your inferences." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "No, but the enclosure is." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept said he at last. "What are they?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came kindly on the shoulder. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house could gather together that I was able to avert another public woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Eyford at 11:15.' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of answered with a sidelong glance. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "It missed him, then?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, forebodings. the child." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." woven round him. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some she used." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all evidence," I remarked. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I had this final quarrel? Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss occupations.' glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." window when the police appeared." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite photograph?" "Nothing." "Precisely." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I to have that photograph." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Where is it, then?" of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Precisely." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be waste of energy." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "But he might be a bachelor." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Where is it, then?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves,