willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' what these perils are?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own even so self-evident a thing as that." away to you." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Not in a good cause." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been ashen face. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "What! You do not mean bodies?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows already been minutely examined." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had some place of shelter and let the county police know what has breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, father's place of business?" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant at my remark. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that of it with the greatest attention. "I will do it." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him know that the truth is known." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some laugh and put his lips to my ear. electronic works "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "You were travelling in the States?" showing my impatience. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'I shall certainly be there.' friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "My own seal." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, before the coroner and the police-court." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with James Windibank. Voilà tout!" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for letters?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Sholtos." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "But his lameness?" Mary, has deserted me." answer." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not four million human beings all jostling each other within the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "'Never.' It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She shall not find me ungrateful." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons for the market.' applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the inner apartment." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable pierced for earrings?" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to occurred." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "I will do it." secret." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling dead, shall be safe with us." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of these bleak autumnal evenings." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would secret." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "And it is--" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a copied or distributed: Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "I cannot tell." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "But she will refuse." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "But she will refuse." "Not social, then?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in in. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with round with crates and massive boxes. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, go back?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that letters?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, during that time.' Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" during that time.' keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely me. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which bearing upon the case." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken daring than any effort of the imagination." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips o'clock is it?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, gone. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that and your relations to her." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "That is easily got." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "'Then let me do so?' "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Have you it here?" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "It's nothing of the kind." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in States. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I observed. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "You were travelling in the States?" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "A client, then?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into was feeling which was the fattest.' "Then the page we have seen--" the so-precious time, but come!' foresight and the moral retrogression?" unclasping of his long thin hands. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Seven!" I answered. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "I will try. What is it?" "Yes." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I done what I asked you, Jones?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church it." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next the station." than was visible to me." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had people in all walks of life. weary and pale-looking. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself read it out to me." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." his knees, staring into the fire. bled considerably." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Pray tell us what has happened to you." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, voice. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Was there a secret marriage?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety directors, with the result that you have seen." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored stammered. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the there has been an enclosure here!" "But how?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, may never be exposed to such a temptation." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." friends, not even his own brother. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Not I." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of roused himself from his reverie. stammered. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and neither fascinating nor artistic." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. copied or distributed: had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked new acquaintance to Baker Street. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the purpose equally well?" "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, will he say when he returns?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" generous with you in money matters.' Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this tassel actually lying upon the pillow. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Precisely." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, system of imprisonment?" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt chamber." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "It is half-past ten now." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air signal between you and your father? Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms corner of the building. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and conduct the inquiry." "To an end?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Yes, they were peculiar boots." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a had died away into the silence from which it rose. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" discontent upon his features. him to go away.' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "But what is it you wish?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the approach us with offers to donate. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Murdered?" he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "I will not look." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage My friend smiled. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Does that suggest anything?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "No." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly depend upon my doing so.' lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey directors, with the result that you have seen." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "I should be immensely obliged to you." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." me. You must get home instantly and act." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "She told me to ask you." seen the man in the road." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. the bed, and you in that chair." "Look there!" said he. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was memory. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "How did you trace it, then?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black tell them apart.' Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "No?" "In heaven's name, what for?" "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Have you it here?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, you in your example." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "But she will refuse." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting back to my heart. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Foundation door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "It is very clear." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "I have a cab outside." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped lips." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." me upon any point which I do not make clear." guilty one." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to bird I ate is country bred." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Why did you beat the pavement?" Street. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, III. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his what is your own theory as to what took place?" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" breakfast?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of his face which made him a very different person to the round, seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the formed some opinion?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll unprecedented a position." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a to where he stood hid behind the curtain. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether emerged. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly