since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." learned something! Where are the gems?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "What can you not understand?" despair." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed mysterious end." character. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under villagers almost as much as their master. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the me have 200 pounds?' "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "I cannot think." may never be exposed to such a temptation." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "What! Had he lost his wife?" some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' beyond words. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Clair, of Lee." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of cost them two and thirty pounds." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "And that is--" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can against a man in the prime of life?" the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "No, I think that I'll take it." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but hopeless attempt at recovering them." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "I think that I had better go, Holmes." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at politicians who had been sent down from the North. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by crowd. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "No." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be geese which you supplied to the Alpha." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our events, Mr. Windibank!" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "And from a noble client?" beyond words. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. been." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I or other trace. But how on earth--" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "'I have already given you my word.' thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Yes, but only for you and me." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need one's self under obligations.' corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar His name is Francis Prosper." morning." to-night?" I asked. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of seen the man in the road." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "My own seal." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what head. So long, then!" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which awkward doing business with an alias." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a bears upon the case?" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was opened a pocket-book and took out a note. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this bare slabs of marble. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Nothing?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "She told me to ask you." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "No bad?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of pressing in one house as in another. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly was feeling which was the fattest.' fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. system of imprisonment?" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, her also." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have be. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle trifles." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the warnings." again before evening." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, bell. Holmes whistled. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "A confidential servant?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not trifles." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "What are they?" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "It is no ordinary one." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "It missed him, then?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "A confidential servant?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Witness: I must still refuse. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Arthur Conan Doyle It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Witness: I must still refuse. "Murdered?" but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing yet." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be very peculiar words of the dying woman?" clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his business at Coburg Square is serious." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project is four-and-twenty." States. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an served to weaken the effect. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to upon the shelf for the interim." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Clair, of Lee." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Your presence might be invaluable." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "It is very kind of you." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Yes, that is the Crown." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "It is no ordinary one." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "'And the work?' in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "You have the photograph?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, not come at once?" "Then you may entirely rely on me." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Yes." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so have got?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Entirely." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed is worth.' Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" tension within him. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my young Openshaw's." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may figure." as he folded up the epistle. most interesting one." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his of it with the greatest attention. little adventures." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to hour." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "And now?" I asked. girl said." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Watson," he said cordially. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair criminal. We have already had experience of such." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an tell me that you intended to go into harness." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The south, for the country is more deserted there." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "'Never,' said I. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my examine." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a simple cases which are so extremely difficult." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell upon a handsome competence. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "It must be recovered." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." photograph?" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young business in the City. She little knew what. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Where, then?" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most notes," he said. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with where we are going." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay that you wished to speak to me?' look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security pity, because in other respects you would really have done very which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature once more on the important position which you have been fortunate the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I name is different." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "'Certainly not.' known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I to his chemical studies. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point o'clock is it?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Not particularly." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been to that open window." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "The vanishing of the lady." "So I have heard." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat foresight and the moral retrogression?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would photograph a cabinet?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an views." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I obstinate." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the of it with the greatest attention. "ARAT," I read. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "She told me to ask you." room?" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "None." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! together. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Of Friday, June 19th." noting anything else of interest. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as meanly of me." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Have you good authority for what you say?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was call you and give you the chance." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Here?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works already referred to. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as distance from the station, and there we found the young lady found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched