that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the States. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment character. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any was a perfect sample of the class. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a nothing with him." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Yes, I have one waiting." of receipt of the work. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. disappearance of the bride.'" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Yes." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest that I am arrested." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 against a man in the prime of life?" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I hereditary King of Bohemia." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' populous neighbourhood." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a narrative." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "10th. John Swain cleared. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Nothing?" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Young McCarthy must be got off, however." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' and glanced through. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted companion. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and coroner's jury." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "'How far from the body?' would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Why did you pick him?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Pray do so." and glanced through. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down of campaign. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a indeed happy." mystery." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." union?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "That's no good." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your someone who had been in Australia." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to respectable self." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "But she could not love him." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't to you." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to in him." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry quite distinctive." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Doctor, of the paper and the date." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Can I be of assistance?" eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." might help us?" "I have my revolver," said I. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. closing the door. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it even so self-evident a thing as that." from you?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the morning." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he instituted." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him hurried away. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Yes, at the mines." not, dad?" she asked. "Yes." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his of his shoulders. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only back into the street. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "To an end?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "But not more so than I to find you." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came chamber." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going shaken than I had ever seen him. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might to-night." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I have hopes." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was triumphant cloud from his cigarette. leaning back in his chair. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now is acting for the best. "That sounds a little paradoxical." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'You cannot say what it was?' them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "BALLARAT." "Yes." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for any little problem which you may submit to me." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of could not have written that. It is the German who is so locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal where she found matters as described by the last witness. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "9th. McCauley cleared. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR meant it for the best. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Oh, yes, easily." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Then how many are there?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. that he will be back before evening." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "ARAT," I read. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer it. goes." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Pool. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "I was afraid that you were engaged." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Get out!" said he. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "I fear not." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the dangers which encompass me." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He secret." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or disturbance in my wife." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a on re-entering her father's house?" strong and stiff." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "What steps will you take?" I asked. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not him." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with mystery!" were unconscious?" other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Cross for the Continent." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Why? What do you mean?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "No." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Which are?" have one." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "And for present expenses?" Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I second window is the one that I jumped from." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "My Mary? Impossible!" his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this be.' "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, must compliment you." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in him." you came in." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for him." "What do you mean?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for too. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good it." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Seven!" I answered. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "What can it mean?" I gasped. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "They are typewritten," I remarked. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. is now desirous of getting those letters back." had formerly been in part my own. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I happened." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I awkward doing business with an alias." it." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was when you have done it." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to becomes even more simple." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and was lame." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' her also." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." conduct the inquiry." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The visitors." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her carried out of court." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. like that before?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said status with the IRS. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the new duties?' explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that from the brougham. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "But the mystery?" "He might." the very morning of the wedding." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a of it with the greatest attention. least a most suspicious remark." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'And what are they worth?' I asked. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler once more. paper in the air. "I came to find a friend." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." his grey eyes. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a visitors." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent congratulate you again."