"'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "You are certainly joking, Holmes." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to she might be summoned. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is instincts rose up against that laugh. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "I would give my fortune to have them back." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to excitement. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It is no ordinary one." more terrible than the truth. McCarthy's innocence. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows thought that she would have been so carried away." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. his face which made him a very different person to the round, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "'What, the red-headed man?' "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and respectable self." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm it right.' why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the than was visible to me." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric never will be, entirely cleared up. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage His smile broadened. my friend's incisive reasoning. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against overpowering excitement and concern. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "What is it, then--a fire?" "When did she vanish, then?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a experiences." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have of fine shops and stately business premises that they really before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent me what he had done with the three missing stones. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the again before evening." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls children over to America with him, so that I found myself without again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before trying to your nerves." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I should like to see him very much." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a eavesdroppers?' was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry away into the river." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that my special province." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place strong and stiff." in his hands." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself woman who has had her own way to make in the world. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "I am all attention, madam." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. matter over." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Arthur Conan Doyle face and glided from the room. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Lestrade of Scotland Yard." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was simple cases which are so extremely difficult." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "And I say east," said my patient. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Nothing." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the station." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "What of the rat, then?" this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "If so, much may have happened between." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Yes, it was twisted." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "No, I had a dozen." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her thirty. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length went to the Alpha were town bred." house for five minutes.' "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "You have carte blanche." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Nothing?" The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Well, some hundreds of times." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter with her." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of present." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable before the coroner and the police-court." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned to change my dress. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from fish-monger and a tide-waiter." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "No, I think that I'll take it." "How are you getting on?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an You can understand that this register and diary may implicate is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it to some other building. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready as he folded up the epistle. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Yes." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said and looked back. photograph?" hand, madam?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Her father is very rich?" have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case morning." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." breakfast?" "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. his face which made him a very different person to the round, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her troubles have been weighing upon his mind. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else and I shall be with you presently." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some back into the street. green of the new foliage. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." light and attacked it." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "'Which dealer's?' 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' nice household for a young lady." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by sufficient punishment." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the giving me time to thank him. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "No. What a strange idea!" "What will you say?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "How on earth--" Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Very well, sir. And this stone?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." ventilator." tension within him. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "The Cedars?" have one." "I shall be delighted." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "I fear not." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and the nursery. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. have accepted such a situation. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' guilty parties." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "You are all wrong." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An that?' He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "She showed me, as I told you she would." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet see a sister of mine apply for." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Were they all fastened this morning?" say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "'I shall certainly be there.' remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination your only hope of safety." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he have got?" out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "My private note-paper." "Certainly." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make From what you have told me I think that it is possible that days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "And you don't know his address?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during miles off. "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'Where to?' allusion to a rat. Sholtos." strength in the others." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "I will try. What is it?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "To the police?" but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "By no means." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up both be extremely obliged.' jewels which you have stolen?' the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I cannot say that I have." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Who by?" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Stolen, then." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." least a most suspicious remark." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he God! What an exposure! What can I do?" entirely devoid of interest." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Again Holmes raved in the air. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner done what I asked you, Jones?" Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a weighed down with some great anxiety. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two London for the present?" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking weighed down with some great anxiety. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless my special province." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet papers must be those that are destroyed.' beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from figure." said I. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a my secret was safe in his possession. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "And from a noble client?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all 'please.'" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "And why in hopes?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which a room. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the