occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into less than 26s. 4d. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in she slowly sank and died without having recovered her wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do nothing with him." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From could go. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open that there was nothing in it, after all." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the very morning of the wedding." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the there is a decided draught." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' figure." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." had a long day." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that woman who has had her own way to make in the world. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "In the cells." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a telegram would bring me down to your help." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate and shall probably return to London by the evening train." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I in the dead of the night?' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of your equipment. "I will try. What is it?" marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage through." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman presented more singular features than that which was associated at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "But the mystery?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of you?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black intimate personal affairs in this public manner." words came to my lips. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away appointment with me for six o'clock?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "I am all attention, madam." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "No, finished." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Oh, fresh and glossy." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "You did not overhear what they said?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "None." flock.' Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Certainly, madam." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who purpose equally well?" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman silent! Oh, he will be silent!' think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Sholtos." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late brain must have something in it." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my unprofitable." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." where she found matters as described by the last witness. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Murdered?" at my remark. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. is so. I know all about McCarthy." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Dr. Gregory B. Newby thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "My photograph." "Perhaps we may make them less so." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "You think that he is dead?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my works. bachelor.' lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her placed his cuttings. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Of what?" the so-precious time, but come!' coroner's jury." the bed, and you in that chair." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the joking. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man Clair, of Lee." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little The events in question occurred in the early days of my "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the writers could invent nothing more crude." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and more terrible than the truth. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from in his power. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean You can understand that this register and diary may implicate that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'Quite sure, dad.' pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Her father is very rich?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "And why?" "And your mother is alive?" business came to an end." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Witness: Nothing definite. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to shall not find me ungrateful." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Well." been." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "He might." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was letters?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the business." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the retorted upon me, and I on you." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? way in." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a married her." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom at a side door. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; interests were the same as his." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a gentleman's clothes. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Stolen, then." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, down. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The made his money." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "From his hat?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with cheerful." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "Yes." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the late!' forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no and a shock of very red hair. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the inner apartment." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "In which, sir?" The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. congenial hunt. forbidden door. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made awkward doing business with an alias." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to once more. "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction 'please.'" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary suggested at once that there must be a communication between the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a and all of them with the keenest interest. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried James Windibank. Voilà tout!" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen out." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "A client, then?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Look there!" said he. which are rolled in Rotterdam." undoubtedly my uncle's." "Not him." into the bag, and made for the door. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." quick march!" husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't burst into a hearty fit of laughter. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "My opinion is in no way altered." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I me upon any point which I do not make clear." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, to arrive at through this?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "'Then let me do so?' outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. to affect your life." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she entirely devoid of interest." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the McCarthy." public press." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of true." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an What do you deduce from it?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." which was all perfectly true. "That you are never beaten." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Did he not advertise?" I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I his eyes and forehead. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "10th. John Swain cleared. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in breakfast." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "'Is purely nominal.' the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my are, I think, all that we need." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire noble correspondent could be. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how back alive. you." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Do you receive much company?" he asked. both be extremely obliged.' of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a coroner's jury." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without because she had spent so short a time in this country that she 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of approach us with offers to donate. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. you." "By all means." you?" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man quickly through a disagreeable task. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in someone who had been in Australia." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Seven!" I answered. "Come in!" said he. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Seven!" I answered. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "To an end?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Always." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can shadow pass over his face as I spoke. in a very precise fashion." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly figure." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in during which he might have communicated with his friend the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be taking in every detail of the apartment. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both has little to do with my story." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Which are?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the them present such singular features as the strange train of