them present such singular features as the strange train of next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a an introduction to him?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "What! You do not mean bodies?" Mrs. Toller serenely. gbnewby@pglaf.org Leadenhall Street--and--" burst out into a roar of laughter. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest and the whole place is in a blaze." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. me. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" have one." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room exactly what you advise." "'Then let me do so?' clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." hard-headed British jury." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin me, and I could not think that his explanation of the married her." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her DISSOLVED. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, meanly of me." shoulder. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "I will do it." from the brougham. "But what is it you wish?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "And the cigar-holder?" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the inquest, and which are worth considering." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off deduce something from that?" overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to be. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Stolen." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" directly by questioning you." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say have I gained?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely to where he stood hid behind the curtain. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Very. But will he see it?" over here." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from not personally threatened." "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "But how will you look?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "I cannot imagine." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. a monotonous occupation." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "10th. John Swain cleared. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "And what did you see?" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid even so self-evident a thing as that." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of wall." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I foot. "'Certainly not.' "'Then let me do so?' that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: your sleep?' hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my away into the river." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I ashen face. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each like gravel from a pit.' lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in of Fenchurch Street." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to of Mr. Rucastle's." four million human beings all jostling each other within the been deceived." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything thin legs towards the fire. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which business." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to and a shock of very red hair. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly ran thus: excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet astonishment. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Yes, only one." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. one's self under obligations.' At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his legal crime." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich noting anything else of interest. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Miss Holder?" Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have breakfast." "I shall be delighted." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "But it has twice been burgled." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his felt the room to be a little close.' instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, me have 200 pounds?' upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Witness: Nothing definite. London for the present?" back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up there." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. which we had just quitted. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly leaning back in his chair. throat." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Yesterday." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told information in his hands the value of which he did not himself succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would case-book, which he consulted. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will one's self under obligations.' With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Certainly." chambers. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do me. best detective that ever lived. "Then I shall certainly come." way in." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Dr. Becher's." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was heavy and sharp instrument." other, as fresh and trim as possible. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Only as much as we can deduce." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, way in everything. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to mysterious end." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Then, how do you know?" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her and effective." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall this Miss Turner." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, me what he had done with the three missing stones. "And how in the world did you find them?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my money should be paid at once.' pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all sound at heart." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "I was afraid that you were engaged." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "What is it, then--a fire?" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A at once, for I have only half an hour." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the your troubles." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' which was all perfectly true. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 orange pips. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "If so, much may have happened between." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "On your arm?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the what is your own theory as to what took place?" minor matters until to-morrow." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." garden below. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that October 9, 1890. the station." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed morning." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere what is your own theory as to what took place?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the really the only notable feature about the thing." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the matter?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Certainly." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in hands. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Proceed, then." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. discontent upon his features. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "You saw the ventilator, too?" I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "It must be recovered." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you populous neighbourhood." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, less than 26s. 4d. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "I came to find a friend." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the again on its way. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' foot. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "And why?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. possible that we could bring him back to her? Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Yes." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; mysterious end." "It is solved." "You have but to name it." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Yes." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no again before evening." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' is four-and-twenty." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "What! You do not mean bodies?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Well, it is a possible supposition." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "What then?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your main points of my analysis." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you strong reason behind." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to make me his representative both with the servants and with the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Oh, fresh and glossy." with frightened eyes at his accuser. danger is over." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set new duties?' ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with the bottom.' building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" meant." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. questioning and rather startled gaze. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Holmes. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "But how did you gain them?" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "I will not look." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It green of the new foliage. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, front of me. "Then I shall certainly come." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," I have it here in my museum." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "How did you deduce the select?" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the begin with, and I had not got mine yet." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate my friend's incisive reasoning. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the him to be an active member of the medical profession." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed must be when I saw the door open.' public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "The doctor?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough opportunities to fix the problem. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I will try. What is it?" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the