outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps asked. have established a very serious case against the son of the "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "A client, then?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "But of what society?" to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." chemical work which was so dear to him. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal night.' said he. formed some opinion?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than tassel actually lying upon the pillow. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "But how?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come imbecility!" he cried. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to the salesman. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "An accident, I presume?" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All was used.' "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. Chief Executive and Director object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign to-morrow." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "I cannot tell." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "What are they?" "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can waste of energy." Pool. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "The gentleman I describe." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Countess of Morcar's?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with in the dead of the night?' nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not your troubles." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Where does the thing come from?' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as recover the gem." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Married! When?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them business." might have a private word with us. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "No, thank goodness, she did not." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "I shall most certainly do so." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is kindly on the shoulder. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "The rest you will leave in our hands." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Certainly." Farm upon the left." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other excitement. "Will you go?" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' and the whole place is in a blaze." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an have had none more fantastic than this." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." out." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could shoulder. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know been deceived." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit one of them." other means.' before the coroner and the police-court." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "How often?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "What can you not understand?" towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that this as likely?" corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Could he throw no light?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the driver. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the was lame." cheerful." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The never to learn it at all." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked the house with me." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "You have it, sir, just as it happened." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "I cannot think." "Who was the criminal, then?" green of the new foliage. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "When did it break out?" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of was once confined in the cab my mission was practically the house with me." "Your French gold?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was relation between them, and what the object of his repeated introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, four million human beings all jostling each other within the "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the present." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the new acquaintance to Baker Street. "But what is it you wish?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' have been better. It is all right." Farm upon the left." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass with some details as to your case." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the have not had my rubber." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "I was mad--insane." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. minor matters until to-morrow." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Nothing?" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "No, I think that I'll take it." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the assist you in forming an opinion." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the there has been an enclosure here!" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "What! a murderous attack?" it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "None." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Really! You surprise me." photograph?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Street. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Entirely." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to it." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "The Cedars?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "I have come for advice." "Yes." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that congenial hunt. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "He is still with you, I presume?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us until night should bring an explanation. the night.' on in his house." Leadenhall Street--and--" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "They are typewritten," I remarked. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, murdered man." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical strength in the others." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all if she died from some sudden fright." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. that threaten you." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would said I. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Witness: Nothing definite. "Dirty?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Well." "She told me to ask you." "But your client--" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "How are you getting on?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Did you observe the colour?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the Friday. Was it to be in church?" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the know that the truth is known." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "That is not always so easy." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'Yes, it was gone.' and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a of them has the shutters up.' hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Well?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to joking. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently what these perils are?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "But she will refuse." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "But he might be a bachelor." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between what these perils are?" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "I am all attention, madam." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, only touch the interest." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up corner of the building. interests were the same as his." what is your own theory as to what took place?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back hurried by. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "No, I had a dozen." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "The best possible." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester colour had been driven from his face. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Well, but China?" matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He of Fenchurch Street." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "There is the writing." said he. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared completely overtopped every other consideration that we both your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me,