"You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Eyford at 11:15.' thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about with you?" 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you you do it in twenty minutes!' errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as occupations.' his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "What, then, did Peterson do?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed main points of my analysis." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Your French gold?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "But he might be a bachelor." like gravel from a pit.' surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was directors have had misgivings upon the subject." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Quite so. She has her freedom." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he tapping his fingers upon the table. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "And now?" He raised his hand. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Yes, sir." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Absolutely?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of such attractions and accomplishments?' be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his deduce something from that?" for its centre. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "'I am sure that I do not know.' least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "I shall be delighted." Where does the thing come from?' when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive and the colonel ushered me in. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him This is what he says: ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with views." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six The summons was a brief and urgent one. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was 'please.'" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other daring than any effort of the imagination." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she said Mr. Holder. the station." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "May I see it?" clanging. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we do.' the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, appointment with me for six o'clock?" back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "I would pay ten." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an Holmes." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for made his money." father's place of business?" discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in was not a bird to be seen there. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie and that he would see to anything that turned up. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I light and attacked it." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a outsides of the windows. call for it in person on Monday morning.' end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's foresight and the moral retrogression?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying annoyance, but no jest. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great The King stared at him in amazement. note?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in papers on the sundial.'" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which my friend's incisive reasoning. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "I will not look." "You have carte blanche." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" But Holmes shook his head gravely. man. I know him from the photograph." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "This photograph!" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "What have you to say now?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "If I can be of use." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "And what then?" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child go from here to the Strand." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Well, it is a possible supposition." Street. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "From his hat?" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have strode off upon his way. "My dear Holmes!" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Yes, the wine-cellar." which it had come upon my father." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as before the coroner and the police-court." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, child?' was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy the date of his supposed suicide." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "On your arm?" the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite quick march!" "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, I am not easy in my mind about them." "Where, then, is my wife?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but impression behind it as though a window had gently closed passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of begin with, and I had not got mine yet." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still details." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The flock.' watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that the south-west, I see." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the out." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his cup of tea. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a hereditary King of Bohemia." green of the new foliage. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "'I have heard so.' the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "I have come for advice." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you is now desirous of getting those letters back." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into possible that we could bring him back to her? "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have the general public were present, then?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly noise which awoke you from your sleep?" wedding?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I tell me that you intended to go into harness." crime." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "But how could you guess what the motive was?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "And now?" I asked. any." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Henry Baker is a member." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest returned to France?" as this. Pray let me have the details." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I something of him before." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee residence of the great financier. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" already referred to. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in about. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Certainly." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately individual and becomes the badge of a society." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be returned to France?" question. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser bore every mark of being an average commonplace British simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "It is very clear." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as forbidden door. some city in a dream. gentleman's clothes. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most The summons was a brief and urgent one. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "But how did you gain them?" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Chief Executive and Director of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had been shamefully used." he. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "To ruin me." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I there has been an enclosure here!" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "To an end?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that opportunities to fix the problem. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture pound a week." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the matter?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "I have solved it." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his new duties?' dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would was not a bird to be seen there. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "She showed me, as I told you she would." "I cannot imagine." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Not in a good cause." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have address. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "And for present expenses?" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which II. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday