relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again I took the paper from him and read as follows: with you?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out woman." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, at my remark. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Witness: I must still refuse. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "And now?" He raised his hand. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have other, as fresh and trim as possible. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his possible that we could bring him back to her? handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned tell them apart.' The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "And Irene Adler?" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened a monotonous occupation." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "There is the writing." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his cigars in their mouths. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not father's young wife. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one to go into your room and bar your shutters?" tell them apart.' as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "In heaven's name, what for?" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an narrative." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this of this gang." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Has he come with you to-night?" hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "'Is 4 pounds a week.' that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's The police have openly confessed that they can at present make child?' "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Of Friday, June 19th." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague who was a member of your goose club." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "You heard nothing yourself last night?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. least a most suspicious remark." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "That sounds a little paradoxical." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "An accident, I presume?" "Where is it, then?" I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "My opinion is in no way altered." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement helping a boy to put up the shutters. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Absolutely none." to change my dress. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "'Ten to two.' "And that is--" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt unprofitable." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily works. See paragraph 1.E below. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be that I can to serve you." telegram would bring me down to your help." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, national property. I was determined that the law should have its visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "The knees of his trousers." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. Foundation access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs completely overtopped every other consideration that we both paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. get the tickets." "'I am sure that I do not know.' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "'Is 4 pounds a week.' strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic to tackle the facts." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them experiences." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front about here speaks of his kindness to him." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five unkempt, staring out at me. later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming lamp in his hand. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. despair." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the over part of the map. "What do you read?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my opportunities to fix the problem. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, will take you up to see the machine.' eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'A dozen yards or so.' closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with must be when I saw the door open.' and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in some terrible trap for her." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. call it cruel." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Doctor, of the paper and the date." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "What steps will you take?" I asked. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I it." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" coat-tails." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed side. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true prove to be little relation between the different incidents of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But any little problem which you may submit to me." "Whose house is it?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question thin, with a long, sharp nose?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time frequently gained my first real insight into the character of caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little infinite languor in his face. For additional contact information: his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about be. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up answer." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to forehead. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we felt the room to be a little close.' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "I am in hopes that she does." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny heavily into it. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day but preventing her from injuring another. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to lost his Christmas dinner." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "I should be immensely obliged to you." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "No sign of it?" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "10th. John Swain cleared. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Do you go out much in society?" then?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately outside. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the his wife has ceased to love him." "And I to find an enemy." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, astonishment. shall not find me ungrateful." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news tail." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" sooner or later she must fall a victim. points to suicide?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the thought that she would have been so carried away." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I 1.E.9. me. You must get home instantly and act." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more The events in question occurred in the early days of my looking up at the numbers of the houses." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every that "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "My photograph." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such beg that you will break it off." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. you." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Very much so." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Pool. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest strange features which were associated with the two crimes which came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "My opinion is in no way altered." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Really! You surprise me." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "At what time?" wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, assist you in forming an opinion." off." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "One?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would brain must have something in it." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "I think that it is very probable." back into the street. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There it." touch that coronet?' old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Precisely." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "But it has twice been burgled." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated never will be, entirely cleared up. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without upon the shelf for the interim." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of His smile broadened. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of face and glided from the room. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, you in yours." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. signal between you and your father? I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Nor running a chance of arrest?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is be. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "No. What a strange idea!" "And sit in the dark?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and rat could hardly pass through." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "'It is locked up,' I answered. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "I am all attention, madam." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. one's self under obligations.' Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been there is a decided draught." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the McCarthy." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and clang of the bell. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "But what harm can there be in that?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from clang of the bell. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "His face fell immediately. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with morning." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said open." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "And leave your case unfinished?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "'There is a drive, then?' vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he call the police, let the police find what they can.' simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will But Holmes shook his head gravely. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his allusion to a rat. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage trying to your nerves." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "No." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that evidence," I remarked. "That is easily got." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle