Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." ashen face. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Yes." said he. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the matter over." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "By no means." if I call to-morrow?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly place, I think that there is good ground to think that the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which instituted." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Yes, that is the Crown." "Yes." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Why did you pick him?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it his forehead." "At half-wages, in fact." if she died from some sudden fright." is acting for the best. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out ago." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a been shamefully used." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. back alive. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in upon the sideboard." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a forbidden door. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously that there was nothing in it, after all." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose get her out of the way." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has the stones. "And why in hopes?" "To the police?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed had this final quarrel? clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining mystery!" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "May I see it?" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. back into the street. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "It is possible." "Come in!" said Holmes. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other extraordinary contortions. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "In the cells." "How on earth--" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The your Highness to the police-station?" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small morning." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "I say that I have solved it." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried village inn over there?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Arthur Conan Doyle companion. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my http://www.gutenberg.net of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, back alive. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. have got?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from man. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" this poor creature." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Why did you pick him?" the station." "Pray do so." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. carriage. It was a chestnut." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "I cannot tell." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods question," said Holmes, smiling. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull of the efforts of the United States government and of the better puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had appeared upon the scene." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were we went to search for him, face downward in a little cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, it." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way could gather together that I was able to avert another public For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "Yes." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should families. Now for the facts. the little opening for the ventilator is." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He late!' hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I respectable self." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Never." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered paper in the air. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem without a word or a look. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in now. It seems that there had been some informality about their The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said is worth.' "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life lost nothing by them." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it have an American origin." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I have hopes." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I him to be an active member of the medical profession." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told floor. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions child?' cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them which our visitor detailed to us. "Will you bet, then?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what DAMAGE. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little yards of it?' from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "I do." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two very peculiar words of the dying woman?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, upon the white wrist. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that you want, then?' him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it case before our client came into the room." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and and have this put in the evening papers." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Very well, sir. And this stone?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. chance." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but it right.' found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed strength." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and papers must be those that are destroyed.' front of me. the dangers which encompass me." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "'Then let me do so?' man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "It's nothing of the kind." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "'How far from the body?' young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought tear off another piece?' of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My should be taken.' very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I nice household for a young lady." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "None. Neville wrote those words." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous do.' little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a cost them two and thirty pounds." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be time." in a friendly supper." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes narrative." I was concerned in it." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "In what way?" asked Holmes. strong reason behind." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds something of him before." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Then you may be so with me." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange obstinate." "Breckinridge is his name." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Yes." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and which should have the effect of calling the attention of the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his his fortune, and I went back to pa. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I ceremony." purpose equally well?" remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope been with you?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; would apply.' in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Not in the least." lost nothing by them." is a common subject for conversation. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "You have the photograph?" the child." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's ventilator." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt points in connection with it which never have been, and probably in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine to have been novel and of interest." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly straighten it?" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it my room." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his call the police, let the police find what they can.' the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the of Mr. Rucastle's." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "I will get her to show me."