opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Come in!" said Holmes. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Yes, that is the Crown." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom during that time.' Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Perhaps I have." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall retorted upon me, and I on you." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort sparkled upon his finger. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk wedding?" mystery." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a directors, with the result that you have seen." "Nearly eleven." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled formed some opinion?" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My redistribution. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Then, as to money?" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the very morning of the wedding." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. purpose of examination. "But you were on a friendly footing?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she upon the shelf for the interim." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "How can you tell that?" in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "Very. But will he see it?" without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the following enigmatical notices: brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one frequently gained my first real insight into the character of dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. down. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. remarked. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who interested in these little problems, and since you are good where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless answer." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Serpentine Avenue. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without allusion to a rat. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "It is true that I have been generally successful." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately nice household for a young lady." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Holmes' room. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being examine." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "I would give my fortune to have them back." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "The vanishing of the lady." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "10th. John Swain cleared. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our girl said." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back something of him before." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between this truth that in these little records of our cases which you dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Yes." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could business at Coburg Square is serious." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate to a more successful conclusion." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the room while you explain this matter?" his forehead." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a have had none more fantastic than this." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his must compliment you." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we this poor creature." "Has he come with you to-night?" behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that gone. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "And how have you succeeded?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case man. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be key of the affair now." had died away into the silence from which it rose. client, rising. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he For additional contact information: "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not business came to an end." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a it." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that there were so many in the whole country as were brought together years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately one or two very singular points about this room. For example, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been His smile broadened. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he to you." mysterious business." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There are, I think, all that we need." colonel looking down at me. "And that is--" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. feature." "I say that I have solved it." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune his eyes and forehead. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. if only as a check to my own memory." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and was used.' therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "I shall most certainly do so." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots that you wished to speak to me?' discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a not as remarkable as your advertisement." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "BALLARAT." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we thought that she would have been so carried away." photograph a cabinet?" the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "'Most admirably.' "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Then, how do you know?" is a common subject for conversation. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Because he was handy and would come cheap." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the do." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Texas, I think." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "How did that help you?" asked. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my of Fenchurch Street." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Dirty?" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." answered with a sidelong glance. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "By no means." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of narrative." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "This concluded the examination of the witness." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "I fear not." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "9th. McCauley cleared. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's words came to my lips. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in It may be so in this case, also." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "But how will you look?" three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Not in a good cause." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "But what is it you wish?" My friend smiled. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and desk. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "You have carte blanche." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you answered with a sidelong glance. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'Yes, sir.' opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little before, for it was considerably after midnight. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, his face which made him a very different person to the round, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each out." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your a monotonous occupation." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of obstinate." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the for and were ordered to this address. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of not within a twentieth part of the market price." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over your equipment. "Texas, I think." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. habit of advancing money.' indeed happy." "'Oh, no.' This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the distinguish the words: feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "That is also quite modern," said the lady. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "To the police?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "'Is purely nominal.' he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Pray tell us what has happened to you." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which passage and a tap at the door. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country washing it down with a long draught of water. you." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Was the window open?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." newspaper selections." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our desk. "It certainly sounds feasible." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us present." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. new duties?' word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, to talk it over. affection." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Sholtos." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for written. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have note?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "But it has twice been burgled." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "And how did you find out?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into gone before you can get him to hospital." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "And how did you verify them?" right! Sit down and let us talk it over." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those people don't know." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been acquaintance?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to foot. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear photograph a cabinet?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before mystery!"