"I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly with you?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself sound at heart." companion imperturbably. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "'Yes.' "Very much so." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide outside." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless minor matters until to-morrow." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the very letters. But what is this written above them?' case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in information in his hands the value of which he did not himself I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "About a month then." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when in the port of London." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Pool. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. the driver. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "It surprised me." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "BALLARAT." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' entirely devoid of interest." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to was shining brightly. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no outbreak?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the again before evening." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who kind enough to tell me what I should do." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "'Yes, sir.' down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he or other trace. But how on earth--" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is humiliation." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful it means?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager father's place of business?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no may never be exposed to such a temptation." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "'Ten to two.' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for voice. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the outsides of the windows. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and will not take me long to tell. must be when I saw the door open.' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his particular state visit http://pglaf.org your own bird, so if you wish--" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** detective. Street. which was all perfectly true. which our visitor detailed to us. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project a very grave face. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me ready to-morrow?' corner of the building. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I say that I have solved it." "To ruin me." meant." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life always that they were such commands as a lady might with you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." manager. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep take the flies, but not before." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There have one." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short fasten all the windows?" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in What do you deduce from it?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. our word." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" know all about it," he snarled. instincts rose up against that laugh. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "The best possible." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the his face. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "But the mystery?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "'Yes, it was gone.' it." "'Oh, no.' little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my of Mr. Rucastle's." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain me what he had done with the three missing stones. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and as yours." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his fait accompli?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him strong and stiff." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Was the window open?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Where did he live, then?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure cheerful." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch highly," said Holmes. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast them, and came down just as you departed. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. mysterious end." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the My friend smiled. "Who was the criminal, then?" bird of prey. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, over part of the map. "What do you read?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "He slept on the premises." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were jewels which you have stolen?' He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. that "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted tassel actually lying upon the pillow. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and really the only notable feature about the thing." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end some terrible trap for her." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "But I am all in the dark." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "None." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." your co-operation." stalked out of the room. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could man. for the market.' to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Pray tell us what has happened to you." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with asked. of the way of danger. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of your own bird, so if you wish--" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out *** START: FULL LICENSE *** we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" done what I asked you, Jones?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the coronet in his hand?" was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some voice. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get three of the beryls in it, was missing. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side Mary, has deserted me." Arthur Conan Doyle "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows nonsense.' down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, power." window when the police appeared." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. address. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying him. correct than the official force." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Here?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his tension within him. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a had died away into the silence from which it rose. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought crackling voice. "'Never.' "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Yes, it was twisted." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just this unhappy family?" results." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his with her." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss subject to the trademark license, especially commercial return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Not him." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there compunction about shooting them down." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, answered with a sidelong glance. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and the Assizes." tell me that you intended to go into harness." indeed which he could not unravel. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "'Is purely nominal.' too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is begin with, and I had not got mine yet." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should