minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "But how will you look?" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "You horrify me!" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission him." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it that the gas is not laid on in his house?" laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "'Certainly not.' moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming keep the flames under. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not people in all walks of life. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the done what I asked you, Jones?" him and tried to hold him back. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "How do you know, then?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed married her." "And for present expenses?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I corner of the building. cigars in their mouths. forehead. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "How long did she speak to this Alice?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, "By all means." "Well, some hundreds of times." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most said Mr. Holder. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly been lifted and conveyed somewhere." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He coroner's jury." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern their singular warning or token before them when starting upon other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Why? What do you mean?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "He is still with you, I presume?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the coronet in his hands?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which other lovers by making love himself." Leadenhall Street--and--" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Entirely." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is weary and pale-looking. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an to-night's adventure." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman lids now and glanced across at his visitor. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Then what has happened to him?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's any little problem which you may submit to me." within hail.' head. So long, then!" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought cost them two and thirty pounds." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "My own seal." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "He is still with you, I presume?" after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate there were one or two details which were new to me. But the your only hope of safety." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a shaken than I had ever seen him. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he matters immensely." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "'Where to?' pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more outsides of the windows. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." promised to bring home. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Certainly." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the presume?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "A greater distance to travel." in his hands." delirious. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This I leave." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter views." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even at my own good fortune. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to that and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "You did not overhear what they said?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With chamber." them?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Very. But will he see it?" rat could hardly pass through." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, be there in time for your coming." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide grasp, he hurried from the room. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the that you wished to speak to me?' served to weaken the effect. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he only touch the interest." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her opened a pocket-book and took out a note. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the he. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' guilty one." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have what do you think they found in the pockets?" conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a detained." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Did your wife hear all this?" attention." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the tragedy. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project as yours." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "And who is her maid?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now been deceived." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten the so-precious time, but come!' ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY question you as to those details which seem to me to be most place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "My dear Holmes!" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in he bowed and left the room without another word. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. it means?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when breakfast." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." note?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "It looks newer than the other things?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "The Coroner: What do you mean? cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Stoke Moran?" said he. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and chemical work which was so dear to him. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "I assure you that I am in your hands." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "No, I think that I'll take it." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my silent! Oh, he will be silent!' notes," he said. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went key turn in the lock." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Yes, I have one waiting." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. the date of his supposed suicide." "'I have heard so.' it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "You think so, too?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. when your master had gone out." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work business in the City. She little knew what. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend sit on the left-hand side of the driver." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "She told me to ask you." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that you." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his future lives." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some beyond words. south, for the country is more deserted there." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my intrusion of other matters." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "And now?" I asked. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your so far?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from a room. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its companion. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found confronted him. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story matter over." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "She showed me, as I told you she would." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "'I am sure if I had known--' "Witness: I must still refuse. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." chair. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "What shall I do?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a strong reason behind." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: vague figure huddled up in the darkness. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "ARAT," I read. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would a suggestive one." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "I have my revolver," said I. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "But how?" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in children over to America with him, so that I found myself without the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or returned to France?" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew at once, for I have only half an hour." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it drove away. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Only as much as we can deduce." "But the mystery?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Pray let us have it, for all that." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Absolutely?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in in the hope of finding them." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but matter." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more