50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean business came to an end." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Gutenberg-tm License. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the so-precious time, but come!' "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." lost his Christmas dinner." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is unprecedented a position." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Did your wife hear all this?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day if she died from some sudden fright." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little me what he had done with the three missing stones. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "No." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Well?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Won't it ring?" read it out to me." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. have accepted such a situation. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who the dangers which encompass me." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and happened." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a meant." way in everything. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no rat could hardly pass through." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can salesman. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same over here." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than name is different." "'What, the red-headed man?' across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and reach." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his papers diligently of late, have you not?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation in his hands." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I introspective fashion. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. past. the loss of it. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "But what will you do?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Sutherland. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor instincts rose up against that laugh. your room." events than those which have happened in my own family." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter village inn over there?" "At what time?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "But how will you look?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" matter." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "I see no marks." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City case-book, which he consulted. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy in one or two places in England?' sufficient punishment." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "I am armed." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the could not have written that. It is the German who is so I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Certainly." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Holmes." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and retorted upon me, and I on you." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes questionable one." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far which was all perfectly true. views." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Where did he live, then?" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite that I am arrested." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, straighten it?" "No?" go--none." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Which surely he restored to their owner?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help himself to hunt down. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too late." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "They are typewritten," I remarked. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature to go into your room and bar your shutters?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. call for it in person on Monday morning.' wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no was shining brightly. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was coat-tails." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "How can you tell that?" the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed I held the little printed slip to the light. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Well, it is a possible supposition." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, October 9, 1890. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "I am to be neutral?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Yes." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and three fields round his house, and there he would take his violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the coronet at all injured?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "No, I think that I'll take it." place of silver." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed better in every way that they should make their position a little "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, time." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at she has been waylaid. There has been no result." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, wall." foresight and the moral retrogression?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present good for you to do.' years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the several quiet little villages up there." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of to-night?" I asked. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." to-night?' At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time or in danger--" "And how did he make his money?" at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked or other trace. But how on earth--" outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two emerged. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying seen the man in the road." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "What are they?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We had this final quarrel? little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Countess of Morcar's?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." you in yours." invisible to me," I remarked. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "And from a noble client?" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were do.' "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know think you a quite exceptional woman." "But you have hopes?" know what is wrong with it.' you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that and I shall be with you presently." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "What?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "And Irene Adler?" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had official police." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, of a light. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "And it is--" he bowed and left the room without another word. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature might help us?" when you have done it." "It is possible." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "The rest you will leave in our hands." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel I leave." "I cannot tell." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is your Highness to the police-station?" him to go away.' observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you any." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Witness: It was. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might locked." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." in one or two places in England?' "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow before the coroner and the police-court." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Ha! you find it so?" "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in could not account in any way for the presence of the missing right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind other means.' inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "How often?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire case-book, which he consulted. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "In answer to an advertisement." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. instituted." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "And how have you succeeded?" for the market.' "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "'Which dealer's?' over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Street. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Yes." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Quite so. She has her freedom." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before few hundred pounds.' Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go present." "What! Had he lost his wife?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a place, I think that there is good ground to think that the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At keep the flames under. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black guilty parties." said he. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "'Then let me do so?' at my own good fortune. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right depend upon your compliance." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before