"I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant depend upon my doing so.' "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a are, and they are waiting for us." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to in one or two places in England?' but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and interests were the same as his." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No any." "On the contrary, this is the right side." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as me. You must get home instantly and act." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "I don't believe it." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical of a light. "I was sure that I might rely on you." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of had no one to advise her at such a crisis." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not was shining brightly. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. call the police, let the police find what they can.' wall." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten cigars in their mouths. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since Gutenberg-tm License. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. the ceiling. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "And how in the world did you find them?" green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "The gentleman I describe." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the business." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "But how will you look?" of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "About a month then." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward discontent upon his features. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Pray do so." "No." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I thin, with a long, sharp nose?" little trying to do so much typewriting?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings soul! here is her carriage at the door." there is a decided draught." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's prepare for the new role I have to play." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob disappearance of the bride.'" returning from some small jollification and was making his way go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life had a long day." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing it." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Yes." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you laugh and put his lips to my ear. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before whatever might befall. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start you do it in twenty minutes!' "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "You think so, too?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "And you don't know his address?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Does that suggest anything?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; goes." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "So I am. Very much so." "That you are never beaten." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "But you have hopes?" "Well?" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "So I heard. You have him here?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary definite end. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Was there a secret marriage?" "And how have you succeeded?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Never." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I newspaper selections." have not had my rubber." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "I am sure." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "It surprised me." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Very. But will he see it?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I was certainly surprised to find you there." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Sholtos." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Was your sister dressed?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told for its centre. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they experiences." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and acquaintance?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Not in a good cause." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "And how in the world did you find them?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had humiliation." events, Mr. Windibank!" photograph a cabinet?" "What then?" "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. chance." "Yes, that is the Crown." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "'As governess?' takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the opened the door, and slipped through. Serpentine Avenue. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine were new raised from a basin. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that danger is over." cigars in the box." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you for securing the situation." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "A confidential servant?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have promised to bring home. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy upon the sideboard." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain direction." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "And you don't know his address?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover once more for Briony Lodge. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "When did it break out?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very During two years I have had three consultations and one small I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She his face. "'Never.' cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that used to be." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to DAMAGE. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "That is not always so easy." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "At half-wages, in fact." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "My Mary? Impossible!" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you have established a very serious case against the son of the said I. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "My dear Holmes!" word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I one's self under obligations.' rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "What I expected to see." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send unkempt, staring out at me. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly your co-operation." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your whatever might befall. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "But how will you look?" out of this horrible affair." feature." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss and capable of preserving a secret.' same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned said Mr. Holder. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "I fear not." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, awaited us upon the table. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "No bad?" go back?" owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Where did he live, then?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the too. telegram would bring me down to your help." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose had no one to advise her at such a crisis." IS has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could a good hundred miles off by now." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something thin, with a long, sharp nose?" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young both be extremely obliged.' "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Witness: Nothing definite. he. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's details should find their way into the papers. Inspector battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought was already answered. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we better in every way that they should make their position a little during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Your presence might be invaluable." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the Friday. Was it to be in church?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They must be when I saw the door open.' the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I unprofitable." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may from you?" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it or other trace. But how on earth--" do.' the Friday. Was it to be in church?" all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt during the last few years, and there are many noble families to values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have to-night?' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the weapon." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "And I." even of instruction." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. nice household for a young lady." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" in. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I say it is." "Always." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong are, I think, all that we need." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a thin legs towards the fire. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "But not more so than I to find you." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be relief. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "'There is a drive, then?' "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being very old mansion. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "A confidential servant?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, bedroom door."