donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Was there a secret marriage?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the Red-headed League." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." and inquire as to the address." people in all walks of life. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be is worth.' more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" be sorry for having acted so harshly." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had and I shall be with you presently." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater certainly do as you advise." gentleman's clothes. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Yes, at the mines." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. shoulder; "he's all right." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, will be renamed. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at thin, with a long, sharp nose?" tapping his fingers upon the table. would then never go into court at all." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about For additional contact information: "None." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "The Coroner: What do you mean? Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Witness: It was. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their or other trace. But how on earth--" the bottom.' to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Stoke Moran?" said he. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted bird of prey. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't opened the door, and slipped through. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." than to us. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "That is not always so easy." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Nothing?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been about. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking arms and began to sob in a high treble key. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay my little problems." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down relief. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time questionable one." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Stolen." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. read it out to me." "Entirely." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was His smile broadened. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Texas, I think." some terrible trap for her." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep persecution?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its tightly behind him. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal could go. "My dear Holmes!" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "And you can do nothing until then?" can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and and effective." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely as noiselessly as she had come. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "You are hungry," I remarked. results." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." death." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent my former friend and companion. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged a good hundred miles off by now." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Not in a good cause." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "No good news?" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "I never have." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have guilty parties." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have conversation I have gathered that they have been married about you understand?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery second window is the one that I jumped from." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire because she had spent so short a time in this country that she grasp, he hurried from the room. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon London for the present?" prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that character. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to sparkled upon his finger. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "He is still with you, I presume?" chemical work which was so dear to him. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Dr. Gregory B. Newby photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Yes." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are ceremony." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be in this way: Henry Baker is a member." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me could go. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "No, I think that I'll take it." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the disturbance in my wife." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, Holmes rather sternly. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the married her." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other I shall continue with my miserable story. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. room?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, learned something! Where are the gems?" "The gentleman I describe." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his pierced for earrings?" "By train from Waterloo." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from during that time.' Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being few hundred pounds.' bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "I am in hopes that she does." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "But you were on a friendly footing?" This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with narrative." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger interest. They are important, you understand, without being chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "It is true that I have been generally successful." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, room had already been engaged for us. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, passage and a tap at the door. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "At what time?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "What do you make of that, Watson?" face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." soul! here is her carriage at the door." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a against a man in the prime of life?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon colonel looking down at me. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Countess of Morcar's?" without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was meanly of me." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me British peeress.'" Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "He might." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There has little to do with my story." Mary, has deserted me." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred was used.' "So I am. Very much so." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "None. Neville wrote those words." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "And how have you succeeded?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at wanted for ourselves." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door it right.' "A call for help, you thought?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "What office?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "'How far from the body?' two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was nothing with him." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly you." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I question," said Holmes, smiling. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this have I gained?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "And how did he make his money?" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view call for it in person on Monday morning.' for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Have you her photograph?" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "What do you make of that, Watson?" tassel actually lying upon the pillow. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. you." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, absorbing." photograph a cabinet?" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of nonsense.' "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an to-morrow." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are my former friend and companion. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Where, indeed?" it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was Street. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "The Coroner: What do you mean? "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a suspect him." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it