"Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Dr. Gregory B. Newby "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. other, as fresh and trim as possible. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the tragedy. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the in his hands." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "That you are never beaten." II. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the matter?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found your bag." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I in a very precise fashion." comes from the middle window." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "I am sure." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. joking. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah confronted him. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Who was the criminal, then?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' it." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Quite so. She has her freedom." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is families. Now for the facts. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and a room. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door had formerly been in part my own. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Perhaps I have." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the driver. Holmes. the dangers which encompass me." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Yes, I have one waiting." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. have an American origin." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened society." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast points in connection with it which never have been, and probably I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Yes." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, was a loud and authoritative tap. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "And how did you find out?" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote that he will be back before evening." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." to some other building. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "And the cigar-holder?" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "What I expected to see." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Mrs. Toller serenely. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do kindly on the shoulder. following enigmatical notices: At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Ten will be early enough." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Upon what point?" "You have the photograph?" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "And sit in the dark?" "Yes, he did." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe coroner's jury." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and This is what he says: for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the walking." already been minutely examined." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my was not a bird to be seen there. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime as this. Pray let me have the details." "Tired-looking or fresh?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should them?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of who was a member of your goose club." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at like gravel from a pit.' introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I events than those which have happened in my own family." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ with the outside air!" the devil!" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "What do you make of that, Watson?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "You did not overhear what they said?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a public press." "My dear Holmes!" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to meant." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the of Mr. Rucastle's." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my way: society." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the matter." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind investigation." third from London." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "You horrify me!" the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. down. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Stolen." beg that you will break it off." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, tail." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." just ask you whether you had heard it.' knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in that you can jump it.' the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "I cannot as yet see any connection." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "No." "It came here." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much towards the blaze. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every directors, with the result that you have seen." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for man. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "What have you to say now?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "What?" "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "How can you tell that?" "Come in!" said he. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything way in." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "But you have hopes?" opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they said I. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the new acquaintance to Baker Street. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Pray tell us what has happened to you." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon room had already been engaged for us. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the morning." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea skylight. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be hour." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom down. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and that I am arrested." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes spare." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "It is very kind of you." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking himself. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir question you as to those details which seem to me to be most help us in this matter." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand to tell." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Yes, sir." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'How far from the body?' "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." his grey eyes. "What, then?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Come in!" said Holmes. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "But what harm can there be in that?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, empty. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Yes." "Dirty?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "My private note-paper." fishes. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the prisoner's face. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I gone. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. forebodings. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "How did that help you?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much developed." "Stolen, then." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The are windows in it, of course?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Pray do so." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. you?' latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, these bleak autumnal evenings." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Yes." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with use an arc-and-compass breastpin." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with of his shoulders. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." south, for the country is more deserted there." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but matter." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to and your relations to her." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much giving me time to thank him. "10th. John Swain cleared. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a make me his representative both with the servants and with the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "We have tried and failed." "Well, some hundreds of times." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was answered with a sidelong glance. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "'Quite sure, dad.' "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "It is half-past ten now." Dr. Gregory B. Newby and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it some water from a caraffe. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "It's nothing of the kind." empty. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Here?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my straightened it out again. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is