called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is to me. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as back to my heart. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There perplexity from it to my illustrious client. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Eyford at 11:15.' "Nothing." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime him nearly every evening." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my might help us?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Why? What do you mean?" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem hair?' "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly started for the Temple to see my husband. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Did he not advertise?" my special province." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building them, and came down just as you departed. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Was he the only applicant?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord have not had my rubber." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "By all means." "'Stolen!' he cried. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "No." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how cigars in the box." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "No." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize handed it to him. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up know all about it," he snarled. IS before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "I think that it is very probable." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and once more to my work. legal crime." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I not fit the lock." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project and your relations to her." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Only as much as we can deduce." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. gentleman's clothes. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I whether it answered to the description of any of their his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon fattened it expressly for you.' post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "How on earth--" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer crowd. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Absolutely none." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "And how did you find out?" Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of what is your own theory as to what took place?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "One horse?" interjected Holmes. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my his knees, staring into the fire. "My last client of the sort was a king." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable father's place of business?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where client, rising. "No." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his that you saw all that I did." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "I cannot tell." appointment with me for six o'clock?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly go back?" Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "A call for help, you thought?" a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for rat could hardly pass through." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden with you alone." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should more solid." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to papers on the sundial.'" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their some water from a caraffe. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "I would give my fortune to have them back." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear legal crime." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the stepfather?" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary you want, then?' pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to companion. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was looking up at the numbers of the houses." vanished into the darkness. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel trying to your nerves." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "And on what day did he meet his death?" police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the said he at last. "Very truly yours, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in young Openshaw's." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "What have you to say now?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "In heaven's name, what for?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, are, and they are waiting for us." to-night." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more and capable of preserving a secret.' next day. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight late!' "Do you receive much company?" he asked. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "How do you know, then?" "'Very good.' strong reason behind." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the of your young ladies.' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Will you bet, then?" before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but your sleep?' when you have done it." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "There are none." this remarkable episode. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn touch that coronet?' "None." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the depend upon my doing so.' dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous questionable one." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies which are rolled in Rotterdam." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought absorbing." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, His smile broadened. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of man. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an you?' and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a next day. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a McCarthy." "What then?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Yes. He waved his hands." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the look dissatisfied." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all events than those which have happened in my own family." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Of what day?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a case-book, which he consulted. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "'Where could I find him?' "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my nonsense.' hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "He said that you could solve anything." and the whole place is in a blaze." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "'Which dealer's?' your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Where, indeed?" like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then fire. You quite follow me?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Not him." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking question. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining guilty one." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other that I can to serve you." question. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how papers on the sundial.'" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. nothing of it?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "And Miss Sutherland?" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Pray do so." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of guilty parties." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel kind enough to tell me what I should do." believe that I should never have any practice at all. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. lumber-room." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is would apply.' "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at What do you deduce from it?" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing it." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little were new raised from a basin. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down me what he had done with the three missing stones. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Nor running a chance of arrest?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a awaited us upon the table. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan than to us. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." prepare for the new role I have to play." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "And did you observe any change in her then?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in