in the port of London." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the yards of it?' without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in second window is the one that I jumped from." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "You will not go there first?" "Was your sister dressed?" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of locked. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue strange features which were associated with the two crimes which have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so Doctor, of the paper and the date." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid detective. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very shoulder; "he's all right." "Nothing." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "But how will you look?" room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "'Oh, no.' writers could invent nothing more crude." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Holmes' thin, eager face. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little kindly on the shoulder. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "What then?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. this as likely?" trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, amused." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both some city in a dream. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in wife's character?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Holmes, the busybody!" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it into her hand at the door and which lured her within their bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, what these perils are?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening sneer upon his pale face. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. papers on the sundial.'" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs here." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "'As governess?' dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had figure." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' fire. You quite follow me?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a strength in the others." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 it." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who that the gas is not laid on in his house?" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Nothing." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter putting in the horse. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "I cannot say that I have." "How often?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and pressing in one house as in another. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as villagers almost as much as their master. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent forbidden door. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "I am sure." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I am sure." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "She told me to ask you." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been into the room. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "'Which dealer's?' could not have written that. It is the German who is so do you make of it all?" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Pray do so." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "You have the photograph?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Come in!" said Holmes. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "No more words. Get out!" occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with taking in every detail of the apartment. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a tell them apart.' like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain lips." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten McCarthy's innocence. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an kindly on the shoulder. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Get out!" said he. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one straighten it?" long narrative. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that to a light-house. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite be.' "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such I was concerned in it." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the date of his supposed suicide." a good hundred miles off by now." tied." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I which should have the effect of calling the attention of the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the forehead. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, that you saw all that I did." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A there were one or two details which were new to me. But the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Won't it ring?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now of the way of danger. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Murdered?" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Really! You surprise me." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert held up the lantern and gazed about him. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of of Fenchurch Street." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a It may be so in this case, also." "How can you tell that?" very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Yes, all." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, were wasted." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Munro.' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of pressing in one house as in another. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you keep the flames under. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and have this put in the evening papers." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a interested in these little problems, and since you are good later, upon the night of May 2nd." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "The Coroner: What do you mean? "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a forebodings. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "She walked into the breakfast-room." was lame." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "My dear Holmes!" is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose It may be so in this case, also." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, is acting for the best. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of words came to my lips. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "When did she vanish, then?" state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you geese which you supplied to the Alpha." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me I think that I could be of assistance to you." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We nothing with him." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all extraordinary contortions. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure I was concerned in it." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every companion quietly. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "'Then let me do so?' "And why in hopes?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with address. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Clair, of Lee." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "A thing like a cleaver," said he. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'And what are they worth?' I asked. rooms." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "I cannot tell." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet his huge brown hands. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless anything to do with the matter?" There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to weapon." "'I have heard so.' she has been waylaid. There has been no result." is acting for the best. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down train.' within hail.' were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "No more words. Get out!" 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "'In my own bureau.' human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the mystery may be cleared along those lines." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there learned something! Where are the gems?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more existence." "She walked into the breakfast-room." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Bought." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes been with you?" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. dramatic, in fact." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the call it cruel." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in strong and stiff." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "If I can be of use." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "That was it, sir." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done my friend's incisive reasoning. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Perhaps we may make them less so." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. wanted for ourselves." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Murdered?" the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some