"He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Where to?" facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Very truly yours, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Yes?" "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had upon an income of about 60 pounds." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It seven miles from Eyford Station.' could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall of receipt of the work. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be at home. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "'Yes, sir.' ceremony." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of window when the police appeared." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I shoulder. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "'Where to?' country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted round with crates and massive boxes. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "What, then?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit voice. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey for securing the situation." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Who by?" "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me introspective fashion. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left you give your casting vote to?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both make me his representative both with the servants and with the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know his eyes and forehead. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Certainly." chemical work which was so dear to him. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper subject to the trademark license, especially commercial which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Just look it up, then." matters immensely." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "You are all wrong." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the details." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "No, finished." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' The summons was a brief and urgent one. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin which it had come upon my father." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided distance from the station, and there we found the young lady what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing very old mansion. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Have you her photograph?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady throat." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that look dissatisfied." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. at my own good fortune. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "'You cannot say what it was?' "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "It is very kind of you." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I will get her to show me." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have said he. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His his huge brown hands. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the see me here to avoid scandal." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, him. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "And it is--" hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' redistribution. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "How many? I don't know." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his pressing in one house as in another. upon a handsome competence. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came morning." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. investigation." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform business matters.' another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Leadenhall Street--and--" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Well, some hundreds of times." congenial hunt. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "I shall most certainly do so." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of clanging. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "How about poison?" at my own good fortune. DISSOLVED. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "We were both in the photograph." Foundation "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to prove to be little relation between the different incidents of over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I records." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. your sleep?' found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we highroad, where all traces were lost. "'Is purely nominal.' was not a bird to be seen there. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how one's self under obligations.' her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "It is true that I have been generally successful." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "No." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon and shall probably return to London by the evening train." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold infinite languor in his face. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that man. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a begun to whiten, even as mine has." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning nonsense.' father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "It is true that I have been generally successful." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles to a light-house. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "9th. McCauley cleared. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" companion imperturbably. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid writing, and yet I know it well." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. married her." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the bell. Holmes whistled. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "That also I could fathom." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss ready to-morrow?' Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not most important business. It is probable that he will be away all state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler breakfast." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' lumber-room." was lame." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It client, rising. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" late." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the so-precious time, but come!' to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss said he. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "'As governess?' years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Then I shall certainly come." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "It's nothing of the kind." o'clock is it?" better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," to miss it." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in gbnewby@pglaf.org the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy was once confined in the cab my mission was practically never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "I think it very unlikely." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her presume?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Pope's Court, Fleet Street." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner sneer upon his pale face. gigantic client. "I am to be neutral?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Doctor, of the paper and the date." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of excitement. "'Yes, I promise.' balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. have accepted such a situation. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window conclusions. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." I was concerned in it." cause to be." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, the devil!" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Entirely." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was and the church but not where the lady lived." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "'I am sure if I had known--' valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, intrusion of other matters." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "But she could not love him." comes from the middle window." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of occurred." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the that there was nothing in it, after all." begun to whiten, even as mine has." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Deserted you?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. not, dad?" she asked. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural details." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of throat." words came to my lips. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which go from here to the Strand." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. think that he is innocent?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. to-morrow." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "We must sit without light. He would see it through the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "How often?" Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San and prosperity to your house. Good-night." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her a suggestive one." in a very precise fashion." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as side. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been have had none more fantastic than this." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she night.' said he. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before key of the affair now." "What then?" burst out into a roar of laughter. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations away to you." must compliment you." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "'What do you call purely nominal?' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If room. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but recall any case within my experience which looked at the first I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "How did that help you?" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." from the brougham. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "There are none." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "On the contrary, this is the right side." back alive. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the burst out into a roar of laughter. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small and effective." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was