commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, think you a quite exceptional woman." them present such singular features as the strange train of reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Well." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a all-comprehensive glances. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten laugh and put his lips to my ear. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the nights." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug him to be an active member of the medical profession." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project tassel actually lying upon the pillow. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in official police." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed observed. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear my friend's incisive reasoning. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little unprofitable." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices the warnings." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have My friend smiled. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to lost his Christmas dinner." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his unprofitable." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, appeared upon the scene." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and side. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." the child." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case putting in the horse. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out residence of the great financier. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I it." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one invisible to me," I remarked. "But you have hopes?" out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. nonsense.' Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't cigars in the box." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I confronted him. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "One horse?" interjected Holmes. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to you." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water cigars in the box." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your his eyes and forehead. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo any little problem which you may submit to me." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very strength in the others." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of most interesting one." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are this Miss Turner." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous weapon." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her just called myself is not exactly my own." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said to-night?' she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to which we had just quitted. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "You have compromised yourself seriously." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and manager. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper particular state visit http://pglaf.org over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "How did that help you?" a little more before I quite committed myself. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "I answered that I had not. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Absolutely?" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Thank you. And your address?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his daring than any effort of the imagination." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, crowd. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. question. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my even of instruction." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "The knees of his trousers." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Ten will be early enough." "And your mother is alive?" by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid south, for the country is more deserted there." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have becomes even more simple." "And how in the world did you find them?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind if only as a check to my own memory." extraordinary contortions. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital to surprise her." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, what is your own theory as to what took place?" than was visible to me." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had approach us with offers to donate. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "What are they?" whatever might befall. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the indiscretion." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At to-night's adventure." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which congratulate you again." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "No, finished." "You have but to name it." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Yes, he did." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to in a friendly supper." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" my friend's incisive reasoning. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," matters immensely." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "And what did you learn from him?" third from London." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. have had none more fantastic than this." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not maid will bring up your coffee." a room. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the loss of it. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At ready to-morrow?' Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "And from a noble client?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "About a month then." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said pressing in one house as in another. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Then I am your man." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." there." "Pray do so." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I think that it is very probable." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." more solid." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the address. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. question. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the Assizes." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, night.' said he. sneer upon his pale face. "'Which dealer's?' to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." himself to tell his story. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" directors, with the result that you have seen." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' best detective that ever lived. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house felt the room to be a little close.' pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they been able to understand it, in a very few words. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the make me his representative both with the servants and with the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "I should wish to." nonsense.' in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "No." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Not social, then?" Street. "And it is--" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at events than those which have happened in my own family." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "No, I think that I'll take it." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was IS "Yes, he did." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their his huge brown hands. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do more terrible than the truth. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without telegram would bring me down to your help." Holmes' room. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "I have solved it." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Yes, the wine-cellar." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make all?" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must I. "And how did you find out?" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding fact, we may call it conclusive." again, where I was soon asleep. "'And the work?' are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by six. Come in!" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "In answer to an advertisement." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." congenial hunt. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If in this way: which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the of Mr. Rucastle's." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Here?" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I assure you that I am in your hands." said I. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" directly by questioning you." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations legal crime." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used examination of the premises, but without finding anything which took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." in his power. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Murdered?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that strode off upon his way. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Absolutely?" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place three of the beryls in it, was missing. and wait." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly his grey eyes. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "And you thought he was pulled back?" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the very morning of my second wedding." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "The doctor?" now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty already been minutely examined." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Come in!" said he. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Pray tell us what has happened to you." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a but preventing her from injuring another. in a friendly supper." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Married! When?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "No." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a